When the T fails you (which it will late at night), you may need to resort to taxis, which are expensive, but they run 24hr and take you door-to-door. See Shops and Services » Taxis for information on rates and specific taxi companies.
Finding a parking spot anywhere in Boston or Cambridge is difficult. And finding someplace to park those wheels might not be as easy as simply shelling out the money—even Harvard has waiting lists for several of its lots, though a new lot at One Western Ave. should alleviate some of the strain. Note that all students with cars are required to register with the Harvard Parking Services, 3 Bow St. (495-3772), even if they don’t park on campus. Bring vehicle registration, insurance, a valid driver’s license, and proof of residency (lease, current utilities, cable or telephone bill with your name and address on it). Non-resident registration stickers, which Mass. law requires for anyone planning to keep a car in the state for an extended period of time, are also available; even with a sticker, dormitory residents are only allowed to park in designated “Harvard” areas on Cambridge streets overnight. The Transportation Services web page (www.uos.harvard.edu/transportation) has more detailed information. Tow trucks and the “boot” (a large yellow metal device clamped onto the front tire, crippling those who don’t pay parking fines) are both major incentives to park legally. If your car is towed from anywhere in Harvard Square, be sure to call the Harvard Police (495-1212).
Basically, there are three types of surface parking options: resident, commuter, and night (12 month, Sep.-Aug. cycle). Resident spaces are valid 24 hr and run $960/yr. Commuter spaces are valid 7am-midnight for $560/yr. Night spaces are valid M-F 5pm-3am and all day weekends for $150/yr. Students with these types of permits generally find that the most convenient parking is at the Harvard Business School lot across the Charles River.
Tenant lots at Peabody Terrace, Soldiers’ Field Park, One Western Ave., 29 Garden St., and DeWolfe St. provide additional garage parking spaces. Although priority is given to residents in a lottery held during the fall, a limited number of spots are given away on a first-come, first-serve basis in Sept., and any remaining spots are given out on Oct. 1. Rates are as follows $1250/yr at DeWolfe, $1080/yr at Peabody Terrace, $1080/yr at Soldiers Field Park, $1350/yr at 29 Garden St., and $1080 at One Western Ave. If the lot you want is sold out, contact the Harvard Parking Office to get put on a wait list.
The simplest (and often cheapest in the long-run) alternative to these lots is to change your official residence to your college address and register the car in Cambridge. Note that your car must be registered in Cambridge, not in Boston or any other Mass. town. For $8/yr, the Cambridge Parking Office at 334 Broadway (617-349-4700) will issue a sticker entitling the owner to park on any Cambridge residential street. Keep in mind, however, that registering here can mean much higher insurance premiums.
Although parking at Harvard is a pain, it is possible to snag a spot if you have a special parking circumstance. If a job requires a student to drive late at night or there is another reason (e.g. health) for needing a car nearby, the Harvard Parking Office will issue a permit for parking near a Harvard house or dorm depending on available space. Getting such privileges is not easy: a space will be given to a student only after it has been offered to everyone else who is in any way at all affiliated with Harvard University. Moreover, the cost is high: 1½ times the Business School rate. If you need to have a car near your house, you can apply for one of these spaces with a letter from your House Master explaining the situation. Students with a disability are discouraged from having cars on campus due to the availability of shuttle vans and should contact their Disability Coordinator with any questions.
Bicycles are popular among students, but be warned that Boston and Cambridge drivers have little regard for cyclists’ rights or safety. Riding through city traffic requires constant vigilance, and a helmet must be worn. That said, it is your duty as a biker to dodge Cambridge’s jay-walking, suicidal pedestrians—they will appear as if from nowhere. It is not advisable to ride after dark, but if you do, be sure to strap on plenty of reflectors.
Given that Cambridge has one of the highest rates of bicycle thefts in the country, lock bicycles at all times and register them with the Harvard Police at 1033 Mass. Ave, 6th fl. (495-1215) or online at www.hupd.harvard.edu (go to the Crime Prevention link). The HUPD serial number you’ll stick to your bike after registering it will deter thieves and can help retrieve your lost or stolen bike. U-shaped Kryptonite-type locks, with a metal or plastic collar around the exposed part of the lock, are the most effective deterrents to theft. A metal cable which you can string through your other tire and attach to the U-lock and chain your seat to the frame also serves as a good theft-protector. You’re best off buying a cheap, ugly, used bike as opposed to a high-quality, expensive one because almost regardless of how many precautions you take, something on your nice set of wheels is bound to get ripped off at least once (if not thrice) during your stay here in fair Cambridge, Massachusetts. If you do have an expensive bike, however, lock it up in your dorm or house basement. (See Shops & Services » Bicycles for places to buy new and used bike gear.)
Harvard University offers a number of shuttles which will transport students between far-flung points on campus. These recently upgraded shuttles operate 24hr during term-time and 7am-3am throughout the year. See www.shuttletime.harvard.edu or call 495-0400 for more information on schedules and routes.
