<p>mathmom, if you think that's odd (to restrict right turns for a single block), have you been to Davis Square where there's a sign instructing drivers to make a left turn on red?!?!?!</p>
<p>I haven't been to Davis Square since Steve's ice cream left the area. (And I had no cars in those days.) My brother lives in Gloucester though and works downtown and I have an aunt in Weston so I do some driving in the Boston area, but not a huge amount.</p>
<p>Although it's a university, Brandeis campus is very compact, very walkable, a bit hilly. Buildings are close-together.</p>
<p>Yes, bring real maps around Boston because of that street sign thingie. In Boston, give some thought to driving around "rotaries" which are circles where streets come together and you go off in a tangent from them. When I wasn't entirely sure of which street to use as exit, I rode around the rotary again, clinging to the outer circle. (I'm sorry, Bostonians, that was me every tiime). </p>
<p>Factoid about right turns on red: Massachusetts was the first state to pass that law in the l970's to save energy.</p>
<p>Have a great trip!</p>
<p>Turning on Red</p>
<p>In Massachusetts, if you're on a one-way street and turning onto another one-way street, regardless of whether it's right OR left, you can turn on a red light unless there's a "No Turn on Red" sign posted.</p>
<p>Thanks, Little Mother. Too bad we didn't have this chat before S's final semester!</p>
<p>worrywart, which suburbs? Waltham has lots of good restaurants (New Mother India, Tuscan Grill, Elephant Walk, Solea); Lexington is OK (Lexx, Upper Crust, Dabin, and an Indian restaurant I can't name at the moment); Concord (nothing terrific but Sushi House and Serafina OK); Lincoln (no real restaurants yet though one is reputed to be coming), Maynard (Monsoon, a couple of decent Thai restaurants); Bedford (Ginger), etc. If you'd like more information, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions, shawbridge!</p>
<p>Marian, you are SO right. Massachusetts has the worst signage I have ever seen, especially Boston. When we travel to other states I often point out to my kids, "Look, clear street signs and directions!" </p>
<p>Only in Mass could Rte 128 South and Rte 93 North be the SAME road going the SAME direction. Only in Boston would everyone including the traffic reporter refer to the "Central Artery" but there is NO road listed on a map called the Central Artery (FYI, it's Rte 93 in Boston, aka the Southeast Expressway). </p>
<p>DH and I have a friend who is a civil engineer, nicest gentlest guy you'll ever meet. He moved here (MA) from NJ. After about 6 months he said, "All I want is 30 minutes alone in a room with the guy in charge of street signs in this state."</p>
<p>Don't blame us, blame the cows who designed our streets.</p>
<p>Sorry to highjack this thread, but how would you get from BU area to Amherst? I have a D who is a sophomore at BU (lives in an apt in Alston so she's there all summer) and wants to take little brother (9th grader) on the train to CTY this summer at Hamshire College in Amherst. No car. She lives on the T. Has anyone done this before?</p>
<p>Oops! I should have said that she rides on the T not lives on the T.</p>
<p>BU to Amherst - AFAIK there is no train that would go out to Hampshire college. A car would be the best option. Next to best would probably be a bus from Boston to Amherst. I used to take a bus to Amherst when I was a student and I am sure things must be better now.</p>
<p>D visited friends in the Amherst area this summer and took the bus home to Boston. There's one that picks up and drops off right in the middle of UMass-Amherst (according to her). It may be Peter Pan. Several trips daily.</p>