i posted another thread about moving to boston and just needed this quick answer. (Cambridge: sublet)

[89david98]

When i move ive heard boston is a walking city, should i sell my car and fly or should i drive?

[lrfox]

Depends on where you live. It's easier to live near the core of Boston or Cambridge (even Somerville) without a car as owning one and parking get VERY expensive. Boston is dense and walkable with a good subway, bus and commuter rail system that covers much of Eastern Massachusetts. However, if you live in an exterior neighborhood of the city (i.e. West Roxbury, Mattapan, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, etc) it will probably be easier to own a car.

In order to answer the question correctly, we'll need to know where in Boston you are looking to live, where you'll work, what you plan on doing for hobbies (if you're a hiker or nature lover, you may want a car to get to the mountains or woods). Personally, I live in Boston (Mission Hill) without a car and couldn't be happier. I couldn't imagine having one here. I take the ski train to Wachusett Mountain to ski from time to time and the commuter rail/Amtrak goes everywhere outside the city I need to go. If a car is needed, I borrow a friends (Zipcar is a good service to look into if you choose to go without a car).

In short, it depends on your situation and where you choose to live within the metro area itself. A bit more info could really help us give you the best advice.

[89david98]

haha yea i guess it would huh? Itll still be afew months or longer before i move, I have some research and 'soul' searching to do before i move, But Cambrige looks interesting atleast for the first year im there until i get the hang of things

[HenryAlan]

I have to disagree some with what LRFox said about outlying neighborhoods in Boston. While it is certainly easier to own a car if you life in Westie, it is by no means necessary. Neighborhoods like West Roxbury and Roslindale are very walkable and have good if less frequent access to downtown by commuter rail, along with very frequent bus service to the subway. You might not be able to walk to work downtown, but you can certainly take care of most of your needs within the neighborhood. The one exception to this would be if you are interested in frequent night life activities. The outlying neighborhoods shut down a bit earlier, and given that transit shuts down before bars, you may want to live in a place that allows walking home from entertainment.

[xS☺B☺s]

You should plan to live in downtown near one of the train lines, preferably one of the green lines. You should not bring a car.

[LarryBird]

89David -- see other string. Try w/out car for starters -- despite the much-maligned MBTA, you can do quite well with light rail, bus and subway. Cars are v/expensive if you don't use much, and as IRFox says, the occasional use of Zipcar (or try the founder's newer venture: GoLoco.org).



Finally, check around college campuses for s/t sublet -- some students take term abroad and may be desperate to fill their slot in an apt. Try things out for the spring term months, which nearly gets you to summer when lots of sub-lets open up.

Good luck!

[89david98]

You guys have been so much help with this moving thing. I will ditch the car, which will also help me save for moving faster since I was going to sell mine and buy one for like 10k before I moved and I was gonna pay cash for it so... this lets me know not to blow 10k, instead use the money to move. Man you all have helped out so much. Posting a thread on here was not a mistake at all. Looks like I will be seeing you guys alot sooner than I thought.

[89david98]

My friend thats moving up there with me wants to know if he should buy a moped when he moves up there? I was telling him what all of you were telling me about not bringing a car, but he's been wanting one for a while and wants to know if its a good idea and if they're common up there