The blog that started it all! Check out reviews of every bus route and train station in Boston, as well as ongoing reviews of the regional bus systems in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Recent Posts from Miles on the MBTA
94 (Medford Square – Davis Square Station via West Medford and Medford Hillside)
There was one time, a while ago, when I almost took the 94. It was a Sunday, and I was at Davis, all ready to go. Then I found out that the Red Line was running shuttle buses - crap. Then I found out there was a road race going on - double crap. Then I found out that...
96 (Medford Square – Harvard Station via George Street and Davis Square Station)
I've used the 77 many times, and would consider myself quite familiar with that route. But from around Porter Square down to Harvard, there's this other mysterious bus that shows up sometimes: the 96. It doesn't come around too often, but it used to almost threaten me...
78 (Arlmont Village – Harvard Station via Park Circle)
I've never thought about if "Arlmont" had a meaning to it or not. It's always just seemed like an odd name for a neighborhood to me. Then I realized that it's actually a combination of Arlington and Belmont! Because it straddles both towns! I love that! ... Anyway,...
84 (Arlmont Village – Alewife Station)
I get that when taking a route in the non-peak direction on the day before July 4th, you wouldn't see much ridership. But I was expecting at least, you know, other people to ride with me on the 84. But nope, there was no such thing. Maybe there were riders on the...
Quincy Adams
Hoo boy, we are going deep into Park-and-Ride Land today, people. After Alewife, Quincy Adams has the largest park-and-ride garage on the entire system. And unlike Alewife, which has seen lots and lots of development, Quincy Adams is still kind of in the middle...
Hingham, Hull – Long Wharf, Boston via Logan Airport (Ferry)
All right, a ferry! And a ferry with some excellent views at that. The Hingham/Hull ferry used to be two separate routes, but after ferries stopped running to Quincy (the Hull ferry was part of that route), the MBTA combined the Hull and Hingham routes. The ferry is...
714 (Contracted Bus: Pemberton Point, Hull – Station Street, Hingham)
This has to be the most isolated route on the MBTA. It has no subway connections and only a Commuter Rail connection - barely. This is the 714, which runs from downtown Hingham all the way up the Hull peninsula to Pemberton Point, on the tip of Hull. Having just...
220 (Quincy Center Station – Hingham Center via Fore River Bridge)
Getting to Hull by bus is a bit of a complicated matter, in that you have to take two of them. The first of those is the 220, which will take you as far as Hingham. And even though the ride to Hull is much more scenic, the 220 does have a few pleasant views for...
Random Photos: A Star is Born
It's been a while since a Random Photos! I mean, how could I not post this...interesting vandalism of a "Stairs" sign at Quincy Adams? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Needham Heights
And here we are at the end of the Needham Line! Is there a big shiny terminus? Well, unfortunately not. There's just Needham Heights. The station's shelter. Firstly, this station does have official MBTA parking, with 100 spaces. It may not seem like much, but it's...
Needham Center
Alright, we're moving north to the middle of the three Needham Commuter Rail stations (or at least the ones with "Needham" in their name - sorry, Hersey). Nestled right in downtown Needham, Needham Center may not be tranquil like its southern counterpart, Needham...
Needham Junction
I've been to a few Commuter Rail stations so far with old station buildings. They always look very nice, but have relatively boring uses functionally. I mean, we've seen old buildings used as a club, a barbershop, and a closed visitor's center - nothing too...
Bellevue
On the Needham Line between Roslindale Village and West Roxbury, there's a clump of really close stops serving the West Roxbury neighborhood. Bellevue is the least-used one, and it feels very suburban in nature. But can it be considered suburban when it's still in...
36 (Charles River Loop or VA Hospital – Forest Hills Station via Belgrade Ave and Center Street)
There's a clump of bus routes, numbered 35-37, that basically parallel the Needham Commuter Rail from Forest Hills to West Roxbury. The 36 is the one in the middle, both numerically and geographically. Also, for a short route, it's incredibly confusing. It can...
38 (Wren Street – Forest Hills Station via Centre and South Streets)
I have a few Commuter Rail stations to review, but I figured I'd get some more buses out of the way first. The 38 is interesting in that it's the only West Roxbury bus that avoids Washington Street, opting for a route down Centre Street instead. Let's take a look at...