{"id":762,"date":"2018-10-20T07:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-20T11:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=762"},"modified":"2018-10-19T12:50:25","modified_gmt":"2018-10-19T16:50:25","slug":"a-reader-asks-what-are-some-tips-and-tricks-for-getting-the-most-out-of-using-the-boston-t","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"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\/","title":{"rendered":"A reader asks: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of the Boston T?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Q: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of using the Boston T?<\/strong> (via Quora)<\/small><\/p>\n

A: Here are three things I’ve learned.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manage The Costs:<\/b> Use a CharlieCard instead of paper tickets. The NFC-based CharlieCards are free (ask at any Info kiosk), speed your entry to the T (just wave your wallet at the gate\/fare sensor), and give you reduced fares (fare info<\/a>). You can fill or refill your CharlieCard using your bankcard at kiosks available in just about every T station.<\/p>\n

Special CharlieCards are available for Seniors, students, and the disabled; these offer even greater discounts. A Senior CharlieCard is basically half-fare, anywhere, for example.<\/p>\n

Manage The Routes:<\/strong> Use an app to help plan your trips on the T. To keep it simple, I use Google Maps; by selecting Directions<\/strong>, and then selecting Transit<\/strong>, Maps will plot the best step-by-step\/stop-by-stop route; and tell you how long the route will take based on actual, near real-time conditions, including info on delays or other problems.<\/p>\n

There are many stand-alone T-related apps, too, if you want one. But I find Maps fully sufficient.<\/p>\n

Manage The Quirks:<\/strong> Boston\u2019s is the fourth-oldest subway in the world, and the oldest in North America; some of the original tunnels are still in daily use! But its piecemeal, add-on-as-needed growth over the last century means it\u2019s definitely funky to use and navigate; and can cause many “why on earth did they do that?” moments as you learn the system.<\/p>\n

But if you do learn the system, you can significantly speed your way. For example, if I\u2019m going to Downtown Crossing from my home, I know the best spot to stand or sit is next to the last door on the right side of the last car; that door places me closest to the station exit I want. Likewise, going home, second car, second door, left side, delivers me right to the head of the main exit stairs at my stop.<\/p>\n

Learning the quirks and shortcuts can speed your travel and minimize hassles.<\/p>\n

\n

Permalink: https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-ci<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Reply? Questions? Use the Comment box at the bottom of the page, or click CONTACT<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 the T (just wave your…<\/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-762","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-ci","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1290,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/09\/a-reader-asks-what-should-can-i-do-during-a-4-hour-layover-in-boston\/","url_meta":{"origin":762,"position":0},"title":"A reader* asks: “What should\/can I do during a 4 hour layover in Boston?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-09","format":false,"excerpt":"A time-crunched visitor asks what to see in a quick tour of Boston.","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":1019,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/10\/1019\/","url_meta":{"origin":762,"position":1},"title":"A reader asks: Is there good hiking around Boston accessible by public transit?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-10","format":false,"excerpt":"Reader Patti McIntyre asks: \"What are some good hiking spots around Boston that I can access by public transportation?\" Some of my favorites: Middlesex Fells Reservation, 2,200 acres (890 ha) of woods, hills, and lakes north of the city. Many access points; depending on where you want to go, you\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":1167,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/25\/a-reader-asks-what-is-the-best-way-to-get-around-boston\/","url_meta":{"origin":762,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: What is the best way to get around Boston?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-25","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: What is the best way to get around Boston? (via Quora) A: Here's my list, in ascending order, best to worst; I adjust as needed to account for weather issues, distance being travelled, schedule pressures, whether or not I need to carry bulky items, etc.: Walk Bike T (subway\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":945,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/04\/a-reader-asks-why-does-boston-have-so-many-universities-compared-to-other-cities\/","url_meta":{"origin":762,"position":3},"title":"A reader asks: Why does Boston have so many universities compared to other cities?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-04","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader asks: \"Why does Boston have so many universities compared to other cities?\" Boston benefits from almost 400 years of continual investment in education. For example, Harvard University was founded in 1636, just six years after Boston itself. That wasn\u2019t an accident: From its founding, up to the American\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":762,"position":4},"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":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":762,"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! 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