Comments on: How to be a Boston Driver

By: train horns

train horns — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:59:47 +0000

11. Blow your train horn, just in case the pedestrians are blocking you! (or just to scare the heck out of them)

By: hgdomainnames » Blog Archive » How to be a Boston Driver

hgdomainnames » Blog Archive » How to be a Boston Driver — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 06:38:50 +0000

[...] more here [...]

By: Chip

Chip — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:10:25 +0000

Doc

Daughter was smart, sold her perfectly good Honda Accord before moving to Boston …
Then her dad was “kind enough” to drive the UHaul 24footer, with 12foot pup containing all of her and her roomates worldly goods from Mich/Ohio to Boston, and through Boston….

Got lots of laughs form this post

Also : roads in Boston were designed by Cows … cowpaths
Look em up

Police – lets’s get started about how there is a law about a cop at every construction site, paid even if they are at the local pub.

How about “roundabouts”

Keep up the good work(s)

By: Keith Hopper

Keith Hopper — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:50:25 +0000

Don’t forget: When driving down a one-way street, make sure to stay right to avoid oncoming traffic.

Personally, I think Boston drivers aren’t bad (full disclosure – I’m a life-long Boston driver). There is just different expected behavior and social norms (often which are callous and dangerous, admittedly). Most life-long Boston drivers would probably do great in a street circuit Formula 1 race, since they both require quick thinking, responsiveness, guts, and a little bit of self-centered, carefree bravado.

I disagree with the “don’t signal” thing. That’s what they do in NY (the NY blind-swerve is a standard expressway move). In Boston, there is prodigious use of the signal, but it’s more of a “watch out, here I come, ready or not” last minute kind of thing. Almost like the signal justifies me cutting you off (”I told you I was coming!”).

By: Doc Searls

Doc Searls — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:11:47 +0000

Matt, my sympathies. What I failed, on purpose, to convey is how truly frightening it can sometimes be to drive here. A friend at the Berkman center, when I said “Boston drivers are —” he interrupted: “—Bad. Not aggressive. Not fearless. Just bad.”

Worse, one has to adapt.

By: Matt Mendolera

Matt Mendolera — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:08:55 +0000

This is perfect…I moved to Boston just over a year ago and got in 2 fender benders before my car was totalled…wish I had seen this list before then…

By: Russ Nelson

Russ Nelson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:21:47 +0000

On my first visit to California, I was jaywalking, and stepped into the street, prepared to run for my life as one ordinarily does in Boston. Imagine my guilty surprise when every lane of traffic stopped for me!

By: dave

dave — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:27:53 +0000

Great list. I would also include – Never make eye contact. With eye contact comes shared humanity and moral obligation, things to avoid at all cost.

By: Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:25:44 +0000

The acoustic energy of your horn will push those other cars forward. Use it!

By: Rod Begbie

Rod Begbie — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:23:43 +0000

There's a great book, Wild in the Streets: The Boston Driver's Handbook, which I bought when I first got a car in Boston. At first, I thought it was a joke. Then I realised that behind the humour was a real guide to what you can expect when driving. For example, my favourite diagram: The Boston Left-Turn. (Its guide to the intersection of Comm Ave and Harvard St in Allston is also essential reading!)