Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cambridge is a city in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. It was named in honor of Cambridge, England, the town where its founding fathers had studied (at Cambridge University). Cambridge is most famous for the two prominent universities that call it home: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 101,355, though even more people commute into Cambridge to work.

Transportation

Road

Cambridge has a congested street network due to the fact that many of the roads were once cattle paths, following an illogical design. Several major roads lead to Cambridge, including the Massachusetts Turnpike (Exit 18), Route 2, Route 16 and the McGrath Highway (Route 28). Massachusetts Avenue runs the length of the city. The Charles River forms the southern border of Cambridge and is crossed by 11 bridges.

Related Topics:
Massachusetts Turnpike - Route 2 - Route 16 - McGrath Highway (Route 28) - Massachusetts Avenue

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It can be hard to find a place to park in Cambridge. Main streets have metered parking. Parking on most other streets is restricted to residents with a sticker. Streets are cleaned once a month (over two days, one day per side of the street), except January through March. If you park on the wrong side of street on that street's cleaning day your car will be towed.

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Mass Transit

Cambridge has one stop on the Green Line (served by shuttle buses during construction until late 2005) and five stops on the Red Line. Alewife Station, with its large and inexpensive parking garage, is an ideal place for visitors to leave their cars (although like many other Boston-area commuter lots, it tends to fill on workday mornings). There are also several bus routes, with major local bus terminals at Alewife, Harvard Square, Central Square, and Lechmere Square, and four trolleybus routes that originate at Harvard Square.

Related Topics:
Green Line - 2005 - Red Line - Alewife Station - Trolleybus

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Cycling

Cambridge has several bike paths, including one along the Charles River, the Minuteman Bikeway and a linear park connecting Alewife and the Somerville Community Path. Bike parking is common and there are bike lanes on many streets, although concerns have been expressed regarding the suitability of many of the lanes. Police will ticket bicyclists who do not follow the Rules of the Road for vehicles. Cambridge has an active, official bicycle committee.

Related Topics:
Bike paths - Minuteman Bikeway - Somerville Community Path

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Intercity

Intercity buses and Amtrak stop at South Station, which is a short ride on the Red Line from Cambridge. Logan International Airport is easy to get to by car or taxi. It can also be reached via mass transit by transferring to the Silver Line SL1 at South Station.

Related Topics:
Amtrak - South Station - Logan International Airport - Silver Line

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See also: Boston transportation

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