ncscott

So I'm following the wife from Durham, NC to Boston. We were planning on using public transport, but it seems to take much longer using public transport then driving or biking. I'll be working second shift so my hours will be 3-11:30. I work second shift right now, so I have night gear already. My questions...
1. How safe it is to be riding in Boston after dark? I will be riding to and fro Beth Israel Deconness to the north burbs.
2. How long do most people commute for (seasonally). Thanks to some osteoarthritis that only acts up while biking, I am limited in cold weather.
3. Since I'll be commuting during off hours, I can use public transport and bike. How often is this done?
Any other Boston info???
Thanks,
scott (I guess I'll need to change the name from NCscott to something else)

GRedner

Greetings, and welcome to the Boston area

1. I ride in Boston after dark almost every day (and I pass within a mile of the BI), and generally feel much safer on a quiet night than in daylight (and rush-hour) hours. As long as you have good lights, know the area, and avoid heavily-trafficked intersections (as much as possible), you'll have no problems.

2. I commute year-round. I do live right on the T, so if the weather really sucks I'll take the train in. In the past year, I've done that about three times.

3. It's done as often as someone finds it useful You can take a bike on any of the subways except the Green Line, or during rush hour. I've seen bikes on the T before, it's not terribly unusual.

newbojeff

Welcome. I'll add:
1. Plenty of riders at all hours. If you have good lighting, you have a leg up on > 95% of them.
2. I too ride year-round unless it is snowing really hard. I ride from Newton into the Longwood Medical area.
3. If it is snowing, I take the T (green line). Depends where exactly you are up north in terms of how convenient public transportation is.

Northshore Man

I ride a folding bike to the train in cold weather to the South Station Area. When it warms up I try to ride all the way fromthe North Shore to Boston for exercise. I have not had any safety concerns while riding after dark in Boston. Welcome to Boston!

gear

Hey N.S.man,
What route do you take to ride to Boston? I like to do that ride from Beverly on some weekends and have not found a route that doesn't include parkways (like the Lynway and Rever beach parkway), then there is the problem of crossing the Mystic river. How do you do it?
gear

Northshore Man

Gear:
I ride from Water Street Danvers through Peabody Square out through South Peabody to Wyoma Square Lynn. Then take Parkland Ave to Boston Street Lynn on to Saugus strait through Saugus Downtown out to Revere cross route 60 to Washingtom Ave by the cemeteries on to Elm Street Everett to Ferry street over to Route 99 then South across Route 16 down Alford Ave by the Schraft's building to the rotary.

At the rotary I head toward the Schraft's building over to Main Street Charlestown. Down Main Street by Marriott Residence Inn and Park near the Bunker Hill/Zakim bridge I walk/scoot over the locks at the Charles River out to Causeway Street.

All total 21 miles a nice route. Worse part is Alford Ave, road debris, traffic etc. Otherwise mostly suburban route quite enjoyable.

I am looking forward to slightly warmer temperatures to begin doing this regularly. I did ride all the way once last week. Today I will ride my folder to the commuter rail in Beverly, depart at North Staion for a quick ride to the Fort Point channel area.

Let me know if you ever want to ride together in to Boston. I leave around 7 AM and leave Boston for the return trip at 5 PM.

Mueslix

Riding at night isn't a big deal. Just get some reflective stuff, and lights.
I generally commute year round. Riding in the snow is a lot easier to deal with than riding in the rain, but I don't care much for either.
Can't take a bike on the green line, unless it's a folder. But it's pretty easy to take your bike on the T.

GRedner

You can't take a bike on the green line unless it's a folder AND stowed in a bag or box. I had a friend get thrown off the green line by MBTA police for having a folded bike under his seat. I'll let you infer my opinion of the MBTA police...