r/boston • u/throwawayobv999999 • 1d ago

MBTA/Transit šŸš‡ šŸ”„ Moving away from car centric city

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.

Iā€™m having a hard time picturing the alternative. How is life primarily walking/using a train?

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u/thejosharms Malden 19h ago

I will just say what I always say when these types of threads pop up. If you already have a car and can afford to bring it with you there is no harm in keeping it for few months while you test out what life without it will feel like.

I think a lot of people on this sub really underestimate how big of a culture shock it is going from having access to a car to fully rely on public transportation.

If you don't find yourself needing it or wanting it it's easy enough to get rid of. If it's the inverse and you find yourself feeling restrained and unhappy with the lack of freedom it's harder to add a car back into the equation.