<p>
[quote]
I'm not sure a car is a reasonable solution. By the time you figure in the cost of buying a reasonably reliable car, insurance, gas, parking, upkeep it would probably be as much or more than a dorm room. Tom, are you an entering freshman? Even if you have family in the area, it would be much better for you to live on campus your first year. A lot of socializing and cooperative learning happens pretty late in the evening and you would not be part of that as a commuter. If you are not a freshman, maybe you could look into some of the independant living groups near campus
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
If there's any way for you to live closer to MIT, grab it
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm working under the assumption that he has to live where he said he will be. Maybe he's a grad student, maybe he's living with his family, who knows? Hey, if he can move somewhere closer, then by all means, do that instead. </p>
<p>
[quote]
In Allston and in Cambridge, a car is not a reasonable solution. Parking is extremely limited, and Boston driving has its horrible reputation for a good reason - it's valid!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, Allston parking is actually rather reasonable around the Allston T. Parking in Allston is tough only around the BU area, which the Allston T is nowhere near. If you can get a street parking permit (which is elementary to get if you actually live in Allston), then parking is quite reasonable.</p>
<p>Parking in Cambridge is more difficult, but he wouldn't really be parking "in Cambridge". I would envision him paying for a parking space at MIT. Yes, that costs money, but see below. The drive from Allston to Cambridge is actually quite reasonable. You actually don't really hit any of the "real" Boston traffic at all, because you're not going downtown. You'd be crossing either the Western Ave bridge or the BU bridge into Cambridge. That's a pretty reasonable drive. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Besides, add in the time it'll take during some of our winters to shovel out your car, and you're still better off taking the T.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
By the time you figure in the cost of buying a reasonably reliable car, insurance, gas, parking, upkeep it would probably be as much or more than a dorm room
[/quote]
</p>
<p>First off, about the whole snow-shoveling thing, well, how about standing around outside, freezing your rear-end off at the T-stop waiting for the streetcar to come in? Remember, past Kenmore, the Green Line stops are surface T- stops, open to the elements. I would far far prefer having to shovel my car out of the snow on the relatively few days when a snowstorm hits, then have to stand out there on a surface stop EVERY schoolday in the winter, freezing my rear-end off. Honestly, how many times do you have a snowstorm that is so bad that you actually need to shovel your car out? Once every few weeks - at most? Contrast that with standing out there at the T every day. Which one would you rather do? </p>
<p>The point of money was also raised. Sure, there's upkeep, there's gas, there's parking, there's all that other stuff you have to pay for. But on the other hand, I am contrasting the situation with boarding the Allston T every day. The truth is, anything on the Green Line West of Kenmore is simply ridiculously slow. Add up all the extra time you would spend in waiting around for the T and riding the T, and that time compensates for all of the charges you would pick up by having a car. Like I said before, time is money. Put another way, I would happily pay a good chunk of change if I could cut my commute time down by an hour (both ways). </p>
<p>The other advantage of the car is obviously that you can go places. For example, you can go to Walmart and load up on cheap stuff. You aren't stuck with paying confiscatory prices at the cornerstore. During vacation, you can drive to somewhere outside of Boston. For example, I remember a bunch of us wanting to see Superman Returns on IMAX-3D. The problem is that the only IMAX's who were showing the movie were in Reading and Natick, which are not accessible by public transit. (The IMAX theaters in the Museum of Science and the Aquarium only show documentaries.) So basically, you needed a car. It just so happens that I happened to have access to a car at the time, but the point is, if I didn't have that, we'd be screwed. The point is, a car means that you enjoy a greater variety of things to do. </p>
<p>But look, don't get me wrong. Again, I agree that if the guy can just move closeby, and specifically to a dorm, then he should just do that. I am working under the assumption that for whatever reason this is not an option, and he has to stay where he is. In that case, I think he is FAR better off in getting a car than in trying to take the T every day (especially during the winter), and better than trying to walk to school every day (again, especially during the winter).</p>