Boston Bike Share, MBTA and getting around questions
#1
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Boston Bike Share, MBTA and getting around questions
Question for anyone with getting around Boston knowledge...
I will be in the area for the Boston Marathon in three weeks. I would prefer to not rent a car. I am likely staying out a little bit, but right near the Dedham Corporate Station (walking distance to that rail stop). I will need to get back and forth from Back Bay / Boston Commons area a couple of times. I should be able to use the MBTA Commuter Rail for that. I'm assuming it is reliable enough and it looks like the schedule runs at times that will work okay for me.
Sunday afternoon I may need to get around the downtown area a bit. For example, from the Marathon Expo near Copley Square to Little Italy / North End and then back again to the Back Bay station. This looks to be only a couple of miles, but I want to minimize my walking seeing as how the next day is the marathon. So would the Hubway share be a good option here? Is the bike availability decent and routes okay around there? I'm okay riding in traffic and such.
Any other tips on getting around while I'm there are much appreciated. Thanks!
I will be in the area for the Boston Marathon in three weeks. I would prefer to not rent a car. I am likely staying out a little bit, but right near the Dedham Corporate Station (walking distance to that rail stop). I will need to get back and forth from Back Bay / Boston Commons area a couple of times. I should be able to use the MBTA Commuter Rail for that. I'm assuming it is reliable enough and it looks like the schedule runs at times that will work okay for me.
Sunday afternoon I may need to get around the downtown area a bit. For example, from the Marathon Expo near Copley Square to Little Italy / North End and then back again to the Back Bay station. This looks to be only a couple of miles, but I want to minimize my walking seeing as how the next day is the marathon. So would the Hubway share be a good option here? Is the bike availability decent and routes okay around there? I'm okay riding in traffic and such.
Any other tips on getting around while I'm there are much appreciated. Thanks!
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Question for anyone with getting around Boston knowledge...
I will be in the area for the Boston Marathon in three weeks. I would prefer to not rent a car. I am likely staying out a little bit, but right near the Dedham Corporate Station (walking distance to that rail stop). I will need to get back and forth from Back Bay / Boston Commons area a couple of times. I should be able to use the MBTA Commuter Rail for that. I'm assuming it is reliable enough and it looks like the schedule runs at times that will work okay for me.
Sunday afternoon I may need to get around the downtown area a bit. For example, from the Marathon Expo near Copley Square to Little Italy / North End and then back again to the Back Bay station. This looks to be only a couple of miles, but I want to minimize my walking seeing as how the next day is the Marathon. So would the Hubway share be a good option here? Is the bike availability decent and routes okay around there? I'm okay riding in traffic and such.
Any other tips on getting around while I'm there are much appreciated. Thanks!
I will be in the area for the Boston Marathon in three weeks. I would prefer to not rent a car. I am likely staying out a little bit, but right near the Dedham Corporate Station (walking distance to that rail stop). I will need to get back and forth from Back Bay / Boston Commons area a couple of times. I should be able to use the MBTA Commuter Rail for that. I'm assuming it is reliable enough and it looks like the schedule runs at times that will work okay for me.
Sunday afternoon I may need to get around the downtown area a bit. For example, from the Marathon Expo near Copley Square to Little Italy / North End and then back again to the Back Bay station. This looks to be only a couple of miles, but I want to minimize my walking seeing as how the next day is the Marathon. So would the Hubway share be a good option here? Is the bike availability decent and routes okay around there? I'm okay riding in traffic and such.
Any other tips on getting around while I'm there are much appreciated. Thanks!
I regularly use the Franklin Commuter Rail, which serves the Dedham Corporate Center stop. The schedule is pretty convenient, and it's only about 20 minutes to the Back Bay Train Station.
The Hubway Bike Share is easy to use and stations are plentiful in the downtown, including Back Bay and the North End. The website also shows bike availability and open docking stations. And in general Boston is a very walkable city with many attractions within a relatively small area.
Are you running in the Marathon, or planning to do any biking? My convenient Bike Shop also rents bikes of good quality; the Hubway bikes are heavy duty ones. FYA, I have posted a Cyclists Guide to Metro Boston about the cycling scene here including Bike Paths, and bringing bikes on public transportation.
I personally enjoy showing visitors around Boston, and I have offered some open-ended invitations on a few Forums to look me up if visiting Boston, for advice or to meet up. I do usually need a couple days notice to alter my schedule. That weekend is Easter weekend, but I may be able to work around family plans if interested...
PS: Another resource on the Forums would be this thread on the Regional Discussion Forums, Metro Boston: Good ride today? with a lot of knowledgeable local subscribers.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 03-27-17 at 08:15 PM. Reason: added PS
#3
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@jim_From_Boston - thanks for the great info. I don't know the area at all (never been there). I am meeting some friends for dinner Sunday night and they called it Little Italy (haven't picked a specific restaurant yet). I did not know where that was, but when I went to Google maps and searched on "Little Italy, Boston, MA," the North End is what the map highlights. Granted I couldn't find the words "Little Italy" on there, but I'm assuming that is the area my friends mean.
Good to hear about the subway / trains. Very cool that you are willing to do some site seeing rides. Unfortunately I'm pretty much in and out and yes, I'm running the marathon on Monday. I fly in Sunday morning and will hit the expo first. Then I may either go to the hotel for a bit before coming back into town for dinner or just hang out somewhere. Then back to Dedham hotel for sleep.
Early Monday morning I need to get back to Boston Commons for the shuttle buses to Hopkinton. After the race I'll probably be hanging out while waiting for friends to come in and such.
I'm then leaving early Tuesday morning (most likely just riding back with a friend who is driving there).
Good to hear about the subway / trains. Very cool that you are willing to do some site seeing rides. Unfortunately I'm pretty much in and out and yes, I'm running the marathon on Monday. I fly in Sunday morning and will hit the expo first. Then I may either go to the hotel for a bit before coming back into town for dinner or just hang out somewhere. Then back to Dedham hotel for sleep.
Early Monday morning I need to get back to Boston Commons for the shuttle buses to Hopkinton. After the race I'll probably be hanging out while waiting for friends to come in and such.
I'm then leaving early Tuesday morning (most likely just riding back with a friend who is driving there).
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Yeah, I'd avoid driving a car here, ESPECIALLY during marathon weekend with all the road closures and polices and other spectators and participants... parking will not be easy or cheap either. MBTA will be packed but usable. You could always fall back on Lyft/Uber.
#5
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I get into Logan at 10am, so I have to first get from there to the Expo, then find some lunch, or possibly vice versa if I'm already starving (my morning will start at about 5am that day). I need to see what other plans there are from various friends going before I can commit to anything just yet.
I think the 6:05 departure getting into Back Bay a little before 6:30 will work for me. The gear bag check is between Back Bay and the Commons, so I'll have to stop there first and then on to the buses.
I also have a friend or two with cars and family there. They are staying even further out in Stoughton. If needed, I'm sure they could pick me up and get me to the buses. But I kind of like using the public transit and/or bike share in big cities. I feel more independent and like I'm getting a bit more local flavor that way.
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]@jim_From_Boston - thanks for the great info. Idon't know the area at all (never been there)…
Good to hear about the subway / trains. Very cool that you are willing to dosome site seeing rides. Unfortunately I'm pretty much in and out and yes, I'm running the marathon on Monday. I fly in Sunday morning and will hit the expo first. Then I may either go to the hotel for a bit before coming back into town for dinner or just hang out somewhere. Then back to Dedham hotel for sleep.
Early Monday morning I need to get back to Boston Commons for the shuttle buses to Hopkinton. After the race I'll probably be hanging out while waiting for friends to come in and such.
I'm then leaving early Tuesday morning (most likely just riding back with afriend who is driving there).
Good to hear about the subway / trains. Very cool that you are willing to dosome site seeing rides. Unfortunately I'm pretty much in and out and yes, I'm running the marathon on Monday. I fly in Sunday morning and will hit the expo first. Then I may either go to the hotel for a bit before coming back into town for dinner or just hang out somewhere. Then back to Dedham hotel for sleep.
Early Monday morning I need to get back to Boston Commons for the shuttle buses to Hopkinton. After the race I'll probably be hanging out while waiting for friends to come in and such.
I'm then leaving early Tuesday morning (most likely just riding back with afriend who is driving there).
I usually visit the Marathon expo on Sunday around noon or so, if you would like to exchange numbers and say Hi, but the event is packed, and I know you are on a tight schedule.
I don’t know what time you have to meet the shuttle bus to Hopkinton, but be aware that according to the published schedule of the Franklin Line, the first inbound train from Dedham is at 5:32 AM, but goes directly to South Station (not the Back Bay Station). South Station is about a 15 minute walk from Boston Common, or two subway stops. The next train, directly to Back Bay, then South Station is 6:05 AM, scheduled to arrive around 6:30 at South Station.
If you run into a real time crunch, perhaps I could help out with a lift (by car) since Dedham is near my workplace. On a personal note, since you live near Charlotte, NC, I had the pleasure of meeting @jppe from Charlotte and riding with him on the final day of his cross-country ride from Oregon to Boston.
Finally, the Marathon Route is basically a straight shot of 26 miles from Hopkinton to Boston, with two turns very near the finished line with the time-honored directions “Right on Hereford, left on Boylston." (as seen from Hynes Auditorium; Boylston is in the foreground, Hereford is perpendicular. The Route is on Commonwealth Ave, "Comm Ave," coming from the left two blocks in the distance.).
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 03-28-17 at 10:11 AM.