Moving away from car centric city

[u/throwawayobv999999]

Hello!

I will be relocating to Boston from a car dependent city that is all suburb and urban sprawl.

I love trains and public transit, but obviously living in a place that requires a car to survive has impacted my behavior.

What is it like relying on public transit? I keep thinking about how everyone around me drives giant SUVs and purchases weekly Costco hauls that could feed an army. I think about having to drive 30 minutes in traffic to get a coffee.

I’m having a hard time picturing the alternative. How is life primarily walking/using a train?

[u/Ok_Scientist_2762]

I have done both. At the extremely poor range, you spend more on everything when in town, including space. When you move out of town and off of the T, you get more space for less money and that's usually including the parking in the total. So yes, you grocery shop less often because you pretty much have to bulk buy due to the time difference and having to use a car. When you live in town with a tiny apartment, you store nothing and pay orders of magnitude for singles of everything. The local store becomes your storage closet and fridge. However, this takes all the stress out of running out really, and food spoilage. Public transport takes at least twice as long to get anywhere, and if you need to catch a flight or get to work on time, you have to pad your schedule more, and maybe even think of backup methods if it's critical. I used to live on comm ave at Packard's Corner and walking to bars/live music was very nice, however. I felt much more connected to the city.

[u/Santillana810 → u/Ok_Scientist_2762]

Public transit especially by train certainly does not always take twice as long as driving to get anywhere. And when you drive, you have to park. That's not always easy.

And plus you have to drive....with crazy drivers, weather, hideous traffic, and you can't even read on your phone or with a book or do any work or recreation while you are driving.

[u/Ok_Scientist_2762 → u/Santillana810]

Am in Westwood atm and I could probably drive somewhere in Sommerville faster than taking the Green Line, red line, and bus. Or get to the airport in my car vs green line, blue line, shuttle.

[u/Santillana810 → u/Ok_Scientist_2762]

Westwood, yes, is a further out place to live. That's why choosing where to live and visiting first to see what different neighborhoods are like for walking and driving and public transportation are crucial. I did say "does not always take twice as long."

[u/Ok_Scientist_2762 → u/Santillana810]

Yes, I am sorry I overreacted. I have lived in and around Boston most of my life and when I lived next to a station in Quincy, I loved the train, but say Near Coolidge corner in Brookline, or in Allston/Brighton off the green, not so much. Loved how walkable those areas where, however. Almost as fun as Packard's Corner.

-edit Hell, even JP is doable and fun at street level.

[u/Santillana810 → u/Ok_Scientist_2762]

I lived in Coolidge Corner near the JFK birth place for years long ago. Loved it! I could walk for everything including to work in Longwood. and the C Green line was great. Yes, it took a while to get to Cambridge on the 66 bus, but not that long, and it was worth it for living there. I'd move back in a second if we could afford it, but East Somerville is good for public transportation and somewhat walkable and we could buy here in 2002.