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Walking and Biking in Boston

Understanding Boston

The center of Boston, where most of its main attractions are, is fairly compact. Because of its small size, it is entirely viable to see most of Boston on foot or by bicycle. If you intend to see many sights in Boston over the course of a few days, it makes sense to divide your days by area. Another option is to follow set walking trails throughout Boston which will lead you to a series of sights along the way.

Slow Sightseeing in Boston

Walking and biking in Boston is a great way to the city as you can see sights at your own pace, stop for a drink if you feel like it, or get to see spots that other visitors might miss. One is the best places in Boston to explore on foot is the Emerald Necklace, the green belt of land that surround the city. This leads on to Boston Public Garden and Boston Common. All areas are perfect for exploring on foot or by bike.

Biking in Boston

Traffic is pretty heavy in Boston. For bikers, that can be good news or bad news. On a positive note, it means that riding a bike can give you an advantage over other traffic on the road by being able to squeeze along the side of them when they’re stuck. On the other hand, it can mean that if you’re not used to cycling on the road, it can be a bit overwhelming. Even if you want to avoid the roads completely, there are still plenty of opportunities for biking around Boston.

Hubway Biking in Boston

The best news for bike riders in Boston is that the city has a bicycle scheme which allows users to pick up a bike from one point in the city and drop it off at another. Hubway is the name of the scheme, and it is a quick, easy and affordable way to get around Boston by bike. Hubway allows visitors to use the bikes on a casual basis. Users use their credit card to sign up for a one or seven day membership at the kiosk. You’ll pay an initial fee for whatever length of membership you choose. After that, as long as you keep each bike hop to less than 30 minutes, each ride is free.

Biking Events in Boston

To ensure that residents and visitors get the most out of biking in Boston, the mayor has introduced some regular events including Boston Bike Week, Bike Friday, and the Hubs on Wheels Pro Bike race.

Walking and Biking Trails in Boston

If you’re looking to take in some of the more historic aspects of Boston on foot, check out the Freedom Trail. The trail covers two and a half miles of pavement throughout Boston city centre and cover sights like Bunker Hill Monument, the Old South Meeting House, and the Old State House. At a leisurely pace with stop-offs, the trail can take up to three hours to complete.

Walking Tours in Boston

If you prefer someone to guide you through a city, giving insight into the buildings and culture of the place as well as pointing out hidden treasures, there are plenty of tour guides operating in Boston. Boston by Foot offers daily tours through Boston which can be either a general tour of the main sights, or a themed tour which takes you to places relating to your interests.

Bike Tours of Boston

If you’re not confident in riding around Boston on your own, fear not. Urban Adventures organizes guided bike tours in and around Boston. Their tours start at 10am each day and will give you a great overview of the city. If you are a confident rider, Urban Adventures also offers bike rentals, including tandem bikes.

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Walking and Biking in Boston