Getting Around Boston Without a Car: A Tufts Grad Student’s Guide

One of the first things people ask me when I tell them I live in Medford is, “Do you need a car?” And honestly… no. Absolutely not. Boston is one of the easiest cities to navigate without driving, and being at Tufts makes it even simpler. Between the T, the shuttle, and the way every neighborhood somehow connects to the next, you can get just about anywhere with a CharlieCard and a bit of faith.

Let me walk you through what getting around looks like for a Tufts student living car-free.

The Green Line: Tufts’ Very Own Portal to Boston

The Medford/Tufts stop sits right across from Joyce Cummings Center, and it quietly solves a huge chunk of transportation stress.

Hop on, and suddenly downtown doesn’t feel “far Boston” anymore. You glide into the city through some of the prettiest parts of Somerville and Cambridge, and in about 20 minutes you’re at Park Street, ready to wander through the Common, change lines, or grab a coffee somewhere unnecessarily aesthetic.

You finish class, walk a few steps to the station, and you’re already on your way downtown. It makes the city feel very close.

The Tufts Shuttle → Davis Square → Red Line Pipeline

Ask any Tufts student about getting around, and they’ll immediately mention Davis Square. It’s basically our unofficial second campus.

Tufts runs a free shuttle that scoops you up from campus and drops you off right in front of Davis. From there you’re on the Red Line, which is the workhorse of the MBTA ; fast, frequent, and full of students headed to Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Kendall, downtown, and everywhere in between.

On days when the Green Line is sleepy, the shuttle-to-Red-Line combo is unbeatable. You feel like you’ve unlocked a cheat code.

Buses: The Underrated Heroes

I used to avoid buses like every other new transplant. And then one day I took the 96 and realized I’d been missing out.

Somerville and Medford are threaded together by bus routes that run on time and fill in the gaps between T stations. They take you to Lechmere, Union Square dumplings, grocery stores, and neighborhoods you didn’t know existed until you accidentally get off a stop too early.

If the T is the spine, buses are the nervous system.

Walking & Bluebikes: Because Boston Is Smaller Than It Looks

Boston feels compact in the best way. You’ll think something is “far” and then suddenly you’re there because you walked 12 minutes. Cambridge is the same: small enough to stroll, big enough to discover.

And if you like biking, Bluebikes are everywhere. There’s something very “Boston grad student” about biking along the Charles on a random Tuesday and calling it stress relief.

Weekend Freedom: Commuter Rail Adventures

The commuter rail is the secret weapon for anyone who wants to escape the city on weekends without renting a car. Salem, Rockport, Newburyport, Providence are all reachable with one swipe.

It completely expands your world. Plus, no parking battles.

So… Do You Need a Car?

Honestly? No. Between the Tufts Green Line station, the Davis shuttle, the Red Line, buses, Bluebikes, and sidewalks that seem designed for wandering, living without a car is not only doable, it’s kind of liberating. You save money, you avoid traffic, and you learn the city in a way you never would from behind a windshield.

For most Tufts students, “no car” doesn’t feel like a limitation. It feels like Boston is inviting you to explore it on foot, rails, or two wheels—your choice!