{"id":1568,"date":"2019-01-06T07:00:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-06T12:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1568"},"modified":"2019-01-05T19:39:44","modified_gmt":"2019-01-06T00:39:44","slug":"a-reader-asks-how-bad-is-the-traffic-in-boston-ma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/06\/a-reader-asks-how-bad-is-the-traffic-in-boston-ma\/","title":{"rendered":"A reader asks: “How bad is the traffic in Boston, MA?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As with any city, there are places and times when traffic is bad; and places and times when it’s not. Without more specificity to your question, it’s really not answerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here’s how you can find out: Open Google Maps for Boston<\/a>, and enable the traffic layer; Google Maps will then show you live traffic conditions: Smooth-running traffic will show green; slow traffic will be orange or red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a screen shot of Boston’s current traffic Friday 11AM 2019-01-04: As you can see, the major roads are moving fine, while some city streets are slow. On the actual map (not a screen shot) you can zoom way in to see live, real-time conditions on any given block or stretch of road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Google’s live traffic can show you smooth traffic (green) and snarls (red).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you check at different times (say, rush hour, or a weekend evening, etc.) and you’ll see where the trouble spots are — and aren’t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permalink: https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1568<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Want to ask Fred a question? Have a comment? Click here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want free notification of new content like this? Click here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As with any city, there are places and times when traffic is bad; and places and times when it’s not. Without more specificity to your question, it’s really not answerable. But here’s how you can find out: Open Google Maps for Boston, and enable the traffic layer; Google Maps will then show you live traffic…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-around-boston"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-pi","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1760,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/03\/why-is-there-no-a-branch-on-bostons-green-line-subway\/","url_meta":{"origin":1568,"position":0},"title":"“Why is there no ‘A’ Branch on Boston’s Green Line transit?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-02-03","format":false,"excerpt":"Boston's street-level, light-rail, \"Green Line\" has B, C, D, and E Branches. Reader Kevin McCullough* asks: \"Why is there no 'A' Branch,\" There was, originally. It ran to Watertown and incorporated some of the oldest street-transit lines in Boston, dating back to pre-electric, horse-drawn streetcars. Today's B Branch split off\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Green_Line_A-branch1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Green_Line_A-branch1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Green_Line_A-branch1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Green_Line_A-branch1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":567,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/06\/around-boston-when-will-the-leaves-change-color-in-massachusetts-in-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":1568,"position":1},"title":"Around Boston: When will the leaves change color in Massachusetts in 2018?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-10-06","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: When will the leaves change color in Massachusetts in 2018? (via Quora) A: Usually, mid- to late- October is the local (Boston) peak color. So, it\u2019s already started! There\u2019s always variability in the timing and intensity of each year\u2019s color; and now, with climate change, there\u2019s more variability than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":656,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/13\/a-reader-asks-is-boston-ma-a-terrible-place-to-live\/","url_meta":{"origin":1568,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: ‘Is Boston, MA a terrible place to live?’","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-10-13","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: A reader asks: 'Is Boston, MA a terrible place to live?' (via Quora) A: Questions like this, with a built-in bias, presuppose the answer, sort of like \u201cHave you stopped beating your wife?\u201d But the answer is clearly no. Here's proof: People don\u2019t choose to move to a place\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3289,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/31\/where-are-some-good-places-to-cycle-around-boston\/","url_meta":{"origin":1568,"position":3},"title":"“Where are some good places to cycle around Boston?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-08-31","format":false,"excerpt":"( Answer requested by\u00a0Elynn Quirk.) This works almost anywhere \u2014 not just Boston: Open Google Maps. Click the three-line Menu icon in the corner. Select Bicyling from the left-hand menu. That\u2019s all it takes. Google will then superimpose a color-coded layer atop the normal road map showing you the area\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bikelanes.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bikelanes.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bikelanes.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bikelanes.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bikelanes.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":762,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/20\/a-reader-asks-what-are-some-tips-and-tricks-for-getting-the-most-out-of-using-the-boston-t\/","url_meta":{"origin":1568,"position":4},"title":"A reader asks: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of the Boston T?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-10-20","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of using the Boston T? (via Quora) A: Here are three things I've learned. Manage The Costs: Use a CharlieCard instead of paper tickets. The NFC-based CharlieCards are free (ask at any Info kiosk), speed your entry to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1405,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/22\/a-reader-asks-do-people-drive-a-lot-worse-in-the-rain-in-boston-ma\/","url_meta":{"origin":1568,"position":5},"title":"A reader* asks: “Do people drive a lot worse in the rain in Boston, MA?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-22","format":false,"excerpt":"Yes, of course. Accident rates in Boston go up in the rain \u2014 just as they do in every other location on the planet. I'm not sure what else you\u2019d expect when roads get slippery and visibility goes down! I'm guessing that what you're really getting at is the poor\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1568"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1568\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1583,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1568\/revisions\/1583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}