Aussie Driving in Boston!!!
Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:36 AM
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Nola,
You should have your TA compare prices of rental cars at the airport vs other places. Seems to me that there is a price difference, but I can't remember if it's more or less at the airport. Also, there actually aren't any car rental places at Logan without taking a free shuttle bus. So, if you're coming from the city, you might be able to take a taxi directly to the rental place if you do pick up at the airport. Good luck. And, I don't think Boston invented the rotary...there are too many of them in the UK. They must have come up with them. And we have far fewer of them than I saw in England. Rotaries will be the least of your worries.
You should have your TA compare prices of rental cars at the airport vs other places. Seems to me that there is a price difference, but I can't remember if it's more or less at the airport. Also, there actually aren't any car rental places at Logan without taking a free shuttle bus. So, if you're coming from the city, you might be able to take a taxi directly to the rental place if you do pick up at the airport. Good luck. And, I don't think Boston invented the rotary...there are too many of them in the UK. They must have come up with them. And we have far fewer of them than I saw in England. Rotaries will be the least of your worries.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 06:49 AM
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Dick - you are too funny. Here are a few more "rules" for driving in Boston...
1. Blinkers are optional and very expensive equipment. Try not to wear them out. You might not find a mechanic who could replace own.
2. If you see someone using a blinker, watch out. Its a sure sign that they don't know how to drive.
3. Right of way goes to the driver with the most beat up car. Especially true at the entrance to Sumner Tunnel.
4. Traffic lanes are merely suggestions, not hard and fast rules. Use your own judgement as to where to position your vehicle.
1. Blinkers are optional and very expensive equipment. Try not to wear them out. You might not find a mechanic who could replace own.
2. If you see someone using a blinker, watch out. Its a sure sign that they don't know how to drive.
3. Right of way goes to the driver with the most beat up car. Especially true at the entrance to Sumner Tunnel.
4. Traffic lanes are merely suggestions, not hard and fast rules. Use your own judgement as to where to position your vehicle.
Apr 2nd, 2002, 07:24 AM
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Here's a basic course on driving in Boston. I have no idea why it's posted on laughnet, it's completely serious.
http://www.laughnet.net/archive/howto/boston.htm
http://www.laughnet.net/archive/howto/boston.htm
Apr 2nd, 2002, 07:32 AM
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Oh you poor thing! While in the city use cabs or the T. I wouldn't get a rental car until you are outside of Boston and route 95. Take a cab OUT OF Boston to Woburn, MA or Burlington, MA and go to a car rental. Driving north along route 128 into New Hampshire, Maine and other points is so much easier for a first time right lane driver. Good luck!
Apr 2nd, 2002, 09:05 AM
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
I read Isabel's advice and thought--Slow? Yield right of way??? Boston??? Boston what, Boston, Wyoming??
Dick (#1), I got such a chuckle out of your turn signals being equivalent to passing secrets to the enemy in wartime. lol My husband, who drove in to Boston daily from the suburbs swore that if you *ever* made eye contact with another driver, you'd just lost your right of way.
Nola...I agree, its far easier to start driving with the unfamiliar steering wheel position as well as road position outside the city, where you are only worrying about you and where you are on the road, not also worried about finding your way in impossible and rude traffic!
To add to Dan's hubcap story, driving through the narrow roads in the Lake District in England my left elbow actually got sore from pressing it so hard against the passenger side door in a futile attempt to force our little rental car away from the stone wall my husband seemed insistent on shaving...as he assured me that his right hand wheels were right on the centerline of the road. The scenery was beautiful when I could open my eyes to look! We've been married 33 years and the fights on that stretch of road were among our worst.
OL Can laugh about it now...after a couple of years have passed.
Dick (#1), I got such a chuckle out of your turn signals being equivalent to passing secrets to the enemy in wartime. lol My husband, who drove in to Boston daily from the suburbs swore that if you *ever* made eye contact with another driver, you'd just lost your right of way.
Nola...I agree, its far easier to start driving with the unfamiliar steering wheel position as well as road position outside the city, where you are only worrying about you and where you are on the road, not also worried about finding your way in impossible and rude traffic!
To add to Dan's hubcap story, driving through the narrow roads in the Lake District in England my left elbow actually got sore from pressing it so hard against the passenger side door in a futile attempt to force our little rental car away from the stone wall my husband seemed insistent on shaving...as he assured me that his right hand wheels were right on the centerline of the road. The scenery was beautiful when I could open my eyes to look! We've been married 33 years and the fights on that stretch of road were among our worst.
OL Can laugh about it now...after a couple of years have passed.
