<p>Do freshmen bring cars to Harvard? Can they? I know many people say it's unnecessary to do so but I will likely be traveling off-campus more often that most, so I was wondering what my options are.</p>
<p>Hahahah! Most students do not bring cars to Harvard, as parking in Cambridge is a nightmare. To park on the streets, you need a resident permit: [Parking</a> for Residents & Their Visitors](<a href=“http://www.cambridgema.gov/traffic/ResidentVisitor.cfm]Parking”>http://www.cambridgema.gov/traffic/ResidentVisitor.cfm). The alternative is private garages: [Cambridge</a> Parking Garages - Compare Rates Prices and Locations](<a href=“http://www.primospot.com/garages/list/city/Cambridge]Cambridge”>http://www.primospot.com/garages/list/city/Cambridge) You can also buy a monthly parking permit directly from Harvard Parking Services: <a href=“http://www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation/parking/[/url]”>http://www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation/parking/</a>, however “Demand for Cambridge and Allston parking currently exceeds the available supply. Each year Parking Services maintains a waiting list for all parking types on the Cambridge and Allston Campuses. New applicants are wait-listed according to the date received in the Parking office.” See: <a href=“http://www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation/parking/info.shtml#gen3[/url]”>http://www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation/parking/info.shtml#gen3</a>. Bottom line: If you’re a freshman, leave the car at home, as you don’t need the headache.</p>
<p>Having a car in Cambridge would be a burden.</p>
<p>Your best option is to familiarize yourself with the Metro system. [MBTA.com</a> > Official Website for Greater Boston’s Public Transportation System](<a href=“http://www.mbta.com/]MBTA.com”>http://www.mbta.com/)</p>
<p>Harvard has zip car - probably the best option for occasional car travel.</p>
<p>D would have felt the same was as you before her freshman year. She now quite proud of herself on how comfortable with public transport but also buses to outside the area. I know she went to NY at least twice. On both trips she ended up doing on the fly tickets changes and such. She thinks nothing of this now and was quite intimidated by the idea a year ago.</p>
<p>Also, make friends who live locally. BF’s parents drop off his car to him from time to time. And though I have never dropped off a car to D, I came by campus frequently. I probably averaged close to once a week. 95% of these trips I never got out of the car and was making some delivery (everything from futon to cookies to Halloween costume requests). But at the other extreme, one time my son and I drove cars transporting a group to and from an all day event in Worcester.</p>
<p>Zip car is 21+. If you’re enterprising (or PM me), you can probably find a way to rent from Avis and get them to waive the under 21 fee. I’ve found renting a car from them to be $30-$50 for a day, from their location in the Charles Hotel.</p>
<p>If you can rent a car, you could probably do so once a week for less than it would cost to park a car near campus.</p>
<p>Boston drivers are CRRRAZY. I recommend making friends with someone whose family lives nearby and has a car. The only thing you really need a car for is transporting furniture and other large things; for transporting yourself, public transportation (the T, bus system, commuter rail) will be all you need 99% of the time.</p>