Pick-ups/Drop-offs: Davis or Alewife?

[brewso.livejournal.com]

I lived in Davis Square for 10 years, and recently moved to Arlington Center. I'm now trying to figure out the whole T thing, since I regularly would have visiting transportation-riding friends go to Davis and call when they got there for a car pick-up. Alewife is obviously closer to me now, but is it the black hole I'm imagining it to be? The station always seems to have a lot of traffic pouring out of it, and I feel like, once I drive in there, I'll never get out. (And how the heck will my friend ever find me anyway?) I have one of said friends coming tomorrow, so I'd like to know if I should send her to familiar old Davis, or new and intimidating Alewife? I'll also probably be dropping her at the T on days she wants to venture off alone, since she's staying a while. I know this is a bit silly and I'm totally over-thinking it, but any first-hand experiences that can help me decide?

Comments

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Alewife is easier for cars, but a little harder for people arriving/departing. The passenger would have to walk a bit and end up in the parking garage. There's a nice "passenger pickup" area where cars can "hang out" waiting for people. It's covered, and thus out of the baking sun/horrid rain/other elements. At Davis, there's no good way to wait for people, just sitting on a parking spot, or pay the dang quarter or two and go inside to wait.

Alewife just sucks during rush hour time. Otherwise, it's very nice, with an exit that curves under Rte 2 and pops you out where 16 splits from 2.

[thesoxgap]

This comment is correct.

[dcltdw]

Mostly this. You have to give directions to people such that they end up in the passenger pickup area (turn right through the turnstiles, go straight veering neither Right nor Left, taketh not the Giant Escalator that will lead thee astray, go THROUGH the double doors and UPETH the STAIRS). That said, if it's during rush hour, I might consider drinking heavily -- well, okay, or trying to nail down a more precise time to meet them at Davis.

But on a Saturday, there shouldn't be a problem.

[wavilyem.livejournal.com]

The only thing about the exit from Alewife that sucks regardless of the time of day is where you merge with the traffic going from northbound Alewife Brook Parkway to Route 2 west. Without a yield sign there, it's not very clear that three lanes have to merge to just two in order to get through the intersection.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

From Arlington Center the bus service is really good, so you might be able to send her by bus to some things.

[dcltdw]

I suspect chenoameg knows better than me, but my understanding is that a lot of the lines are commuter-only. So check the schedules closely, etc.

Is it a bigger hub than Davis? (Check out how little I know about the bus system.)

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

The 77 has a very frequent schedule, but it leaves from Harvard Square, not Alewife.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

And Porter, too! But not Alewife or Davis.

[ron_newman]

But you can easily walk from Davis to the 77 on Mass. Ave. The bike path is pleasant, but Dover Street is a shorter walk.

If your friends are using a Charlie Card, the bus transfer is free.

[ominousspectre.livejournal.com]

Since the 77 starts from Harvard and the OPs friend would probably be on the red line anyway, she could just get on the bus at Harvard. Not much walking, easy to find, T employees to ask if she has any trouble.

[milan27.livejournal.com]

The 79 leaves from Alewife and goes to Arlington center, it goes all the way to the Heights actually.

[ron_newman]

However, the 79 doesn't run at all on weekends, and its last run is around 9:30 in the evening on weekdays. It's also less frequent than the 77 at night.

[milan27.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize that it doesn't run on Saturdays now...I remember when I used to take that bus regularly about ten yrs ago, it just didn't have Sunday service. Even with the less frequency on weekdays, it's still a lot faster and convenient coming from the city.

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

do not attempt to visit Alewife by car during rush hour, the traffic is miserable and it would be faster to walk. At other times, it's ok if a bit confusing.

easily amused and off topic

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i can't stop staring at your icon.

amazing.

Re: easily amused and off topic

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

yeah, you wouldn't think it would look so much like what it looks like when you see the whole thing (taken on the red line, of course)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I agree, but from Arlington you have to get through or around Alewife somehow to get to Davis anyway, so...yeah, maybe Alewife is better.

(Though, really, as other people say, the 77 bus is better still. Or having them walk down the bike path into Arlington to the soccer fields or something, as long as it isn't pouring down rain, and picking them up there.)

don't fear the bus!

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

I'm now trying to figure out the whole T thing, since I regularly would have visiting transportation-riding friends go to Davis and call when they got there for a car pick-up.

There's also several buses that go from the red line to Arlington Center — the 77 from Porter, the 87 from Davis (only weekdays), and the 79 from Alewife.

With new published GPS information (http://www.nextbus.com/predictor/prediction.shtml?a=mbta&r=87&d=87_8720032v0_0&s=5104&ts=12645), this is way less annoying/anxiety-producing than it used to be, since you can know with pretty good reliability (so far so good) how long you're going to have to wait.

Re: don't fear the bus!

[alphacygni]

The 87 goes up to Arlington Center on both weekdays and Saturdays - it's just Sundays (and later in the evening on any day) that it doesn't.

Three different buses go from Alewife to Arlington Center - the 79, the 350, and the 67. Between all that and aforementioned very frequent 77, Arlington Center is one of those places that is as transit-convenient as can possibly be without a rail station.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

um, holy crap the 77 bus is often so frequent you can see the next one from the one you're on. it goes from Harvard to further west than I'd ever care to go, but I know that includes arlington center. it follows mass ave.

[ceo]

Yup. From Davis, walk down the bike path to Mass Ave, it's like a quarter of a mile. (Or, get your bike and keep going on the bike path all the way to Arlington Center.)

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

This. We commute down Mass Ave every morning and every evening and if we get around a 77 bus, it's only to get stuck behind another 77 bus. Even at 0630 when there's no cars whatsoever. It's just the 77 bus.

[weeps]

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

if you'd find it easier to pick them up from the Thorndike Field parking lot, that's an easy walk from Alewife. to get there, go out to the passenger pickup area, turn right, and start walking. cross the road that you come to, and there's the bike path right there. follow it under the overpass, and Thorndike Field will be on your left. The parking area is at the far end of Thorndike field, and is far easier to get to nearly any time of day (except when there's a game at the field).

[howlymcghee.livejournal.com]

Alewife is definitely easier. Since there is a car parking area, you could always arrange to meet your friend inside, by the turnstiles, and then investigate Alewife together--then you'll both know and it won't seem so intimidating anymore!

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Only if you pay the $7 to park in the garage, or take your chances leaving an unattended car in the drop-off driveway.