$4 a gallon - who needs it? A guide to getting around Boston sans car

Just say no to $4 gallons of gas!

We all know by now that buying gas is just a bad idea – not only for your wallet (just think of how many Starbucks lattes a $60 tank of gas could buy) but also for the environment.  Of course driving is unavoidable in much of the U.S., but not a fantastic walking city like Boston!  But before you go thinking the T is your only option, check out this guide for all the great (and silly) ways you can get around – and out of – Beantown.

Save money, use a CharlieCard!

Boston’s unique CharlieCard pass makes traveling cheaper and easier – $15 buys you a week of unlimited travel (month passes are also available), and you can also add dollars to a separate account on the card.  The best part? You need only tap your pass to get through the gate.

Getting Out

Everybody’s got to get out of Boston once in awhile.  While the Zipcar is certainly easiest, there are plenty of other methods of zipping away from the city.  From bus to train to airplane, Boston is well-connected.

The T

The T – Boston’s nickname for its legendary subway – is comprised of four traditional train lines and one underground bus.  Here’s how each works:

• The MBTA red line starts at Alewife, in the boondocks of Cambridge, and ends in Mattapan, passing through all major Cambridge squares (yes, Harvard) and Boston’s downtown financial district.
• The green line starts at Lechmere (Cambridge), passes through the West End then heads straight through the heart of Boston, underground.  Its four branches – B, C, D, and E – break off at Kenmore.  The B is the T’s most crowded line, servicing Boston College and Boston University.

• The orange line runs all the way from Jamaica Plain at one end to
  Malden, Massachusetts at the other.  With several connections to the
  commuter rail, it’s quite convenient, and also quite fast.
• The blue line is the MBTA’s shortest line, but still a complete
  necessity, as it used to be the best way to get to the airport via
  public transport.  It’s also the most convenient way to get to the
  beach – Revere Beach is the next to last stop before hitting Wonderland.
• The silver line isn’t really a train or a bus – it runs underground
  on two separate lines (which can be a bit confusing at times), then
  heads onto main roads en route to the airport.  It second line runs
  from Roxbury to Downtown.

The Bus

Boston’s fantastic bus system has over 150 routes and boasts the sixth largest ridership in the country.  Some buses (namely those to Harvard and the Silver line) run as trackless trolleys.  Locals hope to see the rest of the bus fleet move to more environmentally-friendly methods.