Leaving Boston: Disappointed (Cambridge, Brookline: transplants, apartments, renting)

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Bostonmania

Isnt jamestown in Virginia?

It is (I'm sure he meant Plymouth). It's the thought that counts though.

[Bbiddle87]

I've Been to Boston a few times and the driving is ok it's just like any other city the only downfall I see in Boston is that the downtown cbd is a little on the dirty side. Never meet any rude ppl even after telling people I live in Orlando FL and I hate the Celtics.

[Glasvegas]

You know, Boston has a reputation of having bad drivers, yet why is it not even close to coming top of the "most traffic fatalities" or "most pedestrian fatalities" lists, even though many of the roads are more challenging for the average driver than other US cities that have a boring, soulless grid system? I see drivers stop for pedestrians here, even when they don't have to. I see more respect for cyclists than perhaps anywhere else in the US. I have learned that drivers are "big city" aggressive, but that's to be expected. This isn't Iowa (thankfully!).

The OP got beeped at because he was blocking a toll booth because he only had $2 on him, knowing full well that big cities generally have multiple toll booths. Personally, I'd have honked too, because that's just idiotic.

[LiveUrban]

I totally noticed the "rudeness" of the people of Boston when I visited this past summer. I didn't take anything personally though, I actually got a big kick out of it, it was so funny!

My first interaction with a Bostonian was being scolded at the airport by a security lady with her thick accent.

If the people I interacted with in Boston acted like that here in Texas, they'd be singled out as being miserable grumps. In Boston, I assume that not all of these people are miserable, it's just the type of attitude common there. The way of talking is much more blunt and critical as opposed to the way we kiss each other figuratively here in Texas.

With all this being said, I LOVE BOSTON. Such a beautiful city with great architecture and delicious seafood.

[Texabama]

Originally Posted by Glasvegas

You know, Boston has a reputation of having bad drivers, yet why is it not even close to coming top of the "most traffic fatalities" or "most pedestrian fatalities" lists,

That's cause ya can't go fast enough to get hurt.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by lrfox

It is (I'm sure he meant Plymouth). It's the thought that counts though.

No, he was saying St. Augustine (Fla.), Jamestown and Boston/Plymouth are the oldest settlements on the whole east coast. So it's not surprising it wasn't laid out for cars.

By the way, they have warning signs before the tolls. Maybe the OP was too busy being traumatized by all the other cars to see them. May I never be as wimpy as some of these midwesterners.

[shiver]

The Boston metro has a well-known reputation for bad traffic, confusing roads, and aggressive drivers. And it's not just in the City; the highways are confusing too (128/95 is always fun to try and explain to out-of-towners).

If you think that MA tolls are high, try driving in the NYC Metro area. The GW Bridge and some of the tunnels are like $10+. Yeah, I don't know of any tolls in MA that are $5.50 unless you're driving a car with commercial plates. Maybe a rental car has commercial plates so it's possible, but as others have said, it was poor planning on your part to only have $2/$3 in your wallet.

It's too bad that you had such a bad experience but take some responsibility too. And it's not Boston that was terrible, it was DRIVING in and around Boston that was bad, but even the slightest bit of research will tell you that driving around here isn't easy.

[kcmo]

Kinda making Des Moines (and entire midwest look pretty podunk here). And yes, where is this $5.50 toll? I think I paid every toll in the city and it was never more than 3-4 bucks. Then again, I have an ezpass, so who knows.

[mdovell]

Mass. Drivers Face Turnpike Toll Increase | WBUR

"By a 4-1 vote, the board agreed to hike eastern Massachusetts tolls to $1.50 at the Allston-Brighton and Weston booths, and $5.50 at the Boston Harbor tunnel crossings, effective March 29."

Then again this shouldn't be a surprise given it happened a few year ago.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Mass. Drivers Face Turnpike Toll Increase | WBUR

"By a 4-1 vote, the board agreed to hike eastern Massachusetts tolls to $1.50 at the Allston-Brighton and Weston booths, and $5.50 at the Boston Harbor tunnel crossings, effective March 29."

Then again this shouldn't be a surprise given it happened a few year ago.

MassDOT Highway Division: Toll Information

Wrong, this decision I believe was overturned due to outcry. The tunnel toll (without ez-pass) is still $3.50, which is the highest of all Boston tolls. A commercial vehicle is $5.25, but I have never heard of a rental car with commercial plates.