(no subject)

[ludimagist.livejournal.com]

For those who live in and around Davis Sq, what do you wish you knew about before moving there?

I'm about to move to the area to start grad school at Tufts (I just got offered the apt I wanted today and will be moving in August).

What should I know about the area before living there? I moved from NYC to Waltham 2 years ago so I'm somewhat familiar with Boston in general.

Comments

[ceo]

Yeah, for getting to Davis from Lechmere, you may be better off walking to the Cambridgeside Galleria and taking their shuttle to Kendall.

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

I hate the Somerville buses.

May I offer an alternate opinion? I think they're great, actually. Yes, you have to know which bus you're taking and when it comes, but that's not really too hard to figure out, and they're often *much* more efficient than the T, depending on where you're trying to go. And as for nasty weather, it's a toss-up: often the bus gets you so much closer to your destination that it's worth waiting outside. I take the 87 (to Lechmere via Union Sq.) and 77/79 (to Arlington Heights via Mass Ave.) frequently, and they're always right on time.

I highly recommend the MBTA Trip Planner: http://trip.mbta.com/cgi-bin/itin_page_dhtml.pl. You put in your location, your destination and when you want to get there, and it tells you the best ways to get there.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Um, not always best way. But it is a good tool for getting a quick glance at some options.

I recently used it for such, and told it to plan, allowing 1/2 mile walking distance ((possibly more--the point being, it seemed to ignore that parameter for part of its results). It correctly advised me which subway line to take, and which stop to get off at, but it then would have had me waiting around about twenty-five minutes for a bus, when I could walk to my destination (clearly less than a half mile from the stop) in about 5. Fortunately I also had a map that made that clear, and therefore did not take the unnecessary bus.

[cedarmulberry.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yes, it will definitely favor the bus over walking, even if you're only walking for two blocks and it's quiker and easier than waiting for the bus. I've gotten wierd looks from busdrivers and other passengers for taking such short rides, until I learned to always cross-reference TripPlanner directions with a map.

But I still love the TripPlanner, now that I realize I have to add a dash of my own common sense to the mix to get the most sensible directions =^)

busses

[sissychrissy1.livejournal.com]

FYI, there's also the 80 that runs to Lechmere through Powderhouse Square. It's only a five minute walk from Davis, so sometimes if nothing else it coming at the appropriate time, you might be able to walk down there and catch the 80.