I'd go the other way with the bike lane through Central Sq. Even though a) there is one, and b) it is layed out well, including the nice allowance for proper positioning on the left of the right turn only lane, it is also to left of a) a taxi stand, b) a bus stop, and c) parking, usually with at least a taxi, bus, or car (or two or three) somehow blocking the lane. Better than many, still far short of ideal.

I trust Boston drivers more than I trust the rural yahoos in Maine... In Boston, they treat you like traffic. Which is good in some cases because they are more aware of cyclists, but bad in others because Boston drivers are an agro-ignorant bunch to begin with. Sure, they treat you like any other road user, but sit on a bench some day and count the number of cars with dents... or rather the number of cars without dents--it will be easier that way.