Boston University - Transportation

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Most students agree that the T is extremely simple—it runs in color-coordinated lines around and outside of the city—and relatively inexpensive to ride—it costs a couple dollars and is even cheaper if you use a Charlie Card. Almost everything is a quick T ride away, and the campus is located along the Green B Line. The T runs like a trolley across BU campus and can therefore get really crowded on school days—there will be days when it feels like it’s 10 degrees below zero, you are late for a midterm, and three different Ts drive by before you are able to squeeze in—but it is usually the best mode of transportation to and from class. The T stops running at 12:30 a.m., which is far from convenient, but the “Night Owl” buses continue to run until 2 a.m. on the weekends. Reduced price passes are available each semester through BU at the student union. If you move off campus, it is a good idea to look for a place that is advertised as T-accessible. There are also free BU shuttles that travel to some of the more remote dorms. On the weekends, BU also offers a late-night shuttle service that runs until 4 a.m. Luckily, in a bind, there are always cabs.

Pedestrians, beware! The drivers in Massachusetts, and especially in Boston, are referred to across the country as “Massholes.” If you should come across an individual of this kind, run the other way. Overall, transportation in Boston is readily accessible and easy-to-use. You definitely do not need a car because it often proves to be more of a hassle than it is worth.

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Students Speak Out

BUME says: Boston University 2010 Communication and Journalism

Boston has one of the best public... Boston has one of the best public transportation systems in the world-if you can stand the other people who ride it. 12345 Transportation: February 27, 2009 Report

BUNO says: Boston University 2010 Engineering

Public transportation is... Public transportation is incredibly convenient, but it can get pricey sometimes because it adds up. The BU shuttle does not exactly go to the most convenient locations, so I often find myself walking places most of the time in the cold months and riding my bike in the warm months. It's cheap and healthy—can't beat that! 12345 Transportation: February 25, 2009 Report

BUJC says: Boston University 2013 Social Sciences

The T is not the most reliable... The T is not the most reliable source of transportation, and it's not totally free, but you can snag a free ride every now and then. There is also the free BU shuttle that roams around. 12345 Transportation: February 23, 2009 Report

BUNJ says: Boston University 2010 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Public transportation is pretty... Public transportation is pretty good around BU. Since BU is a city campus, we rely on the city transportation, such as the train and buses, a lot. The only inconvenience is that they usually stop running after 12:30 am or so. Also, there is the free BU shuttle that goes around campus, although it doesn't run all the time, either. 12345 Transportation: February 14, 2009 Report

BUPS says: Boston University 2011 Engineering

The MBTA is not efficient, it's... The MBTA is not efficient, it's never on time, and they're jacking up prices and cutting down on service due to the economy. With that being said, whether it's the bus, the T, or the commuter rail, you can always get where you need to go, even if it takes a while. The BU shuttle is amazing, too, and always reliable for getting around the main campus and going between the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus in South Boston. 12345 Transportation: February 25, 2009 Report

Did You Know?

Most methods of transportation in Boston will accept the Student Advantage Card (you will receive information about it when you arrive on campus, or during orientation). The SA card allows a 15% student discount at Amtrak and Greyhound locations.

Not-So-Fun Facts:
1. During the beginning of the war on terror, Boston was rated the second worst place to be in the country in case of an emergency.
2. The “Big Dig,” Boston’s enormous construction project, which was originally projected to last for approximately four years, grew to occupy more than10 years of construction on Boston’s highway system, finishing around the fall of 2007.
3. When there is traffic, you could potentially be stuck at a standstill for hours before getting out of the city.
 

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