Watch out for pedestrians. They have the right of way. Otherwise, use an app for directions. They do a decent job. Not much else to it besides knowing how to drive a vehicle properly.

Look out for signs. A lot of times it looks like you can take a left or right at a certain intersection but you can’t.

Always assume someone will cut you off, even if you don’t think there’s room to go in front of you I promise they will find a way

You will get lost. If you miss your turn or you are in the wrong lane just take the L and keep going until you can circle back around. Do not stop in the middle of the road like an idiot. Do not block the intersections. Do pay attention if the road you are turning down is a One Way or not.

Assume everyone is the biggest moron you have ever driven next to and that they have an active deathwish. Merge with your gas pedal, not your brake. Use your turn signal, but you are not asking permission you are giving them a courtesy heads-up what you're about to do. You should already be starting to change lanes when you put it on.

Honking is fine. Rolling down your window to argue means you have decided you are willing to die for it, pick your battles carefully because everyone here is on their 13th reason.

1. Blinkers are a sign of weakness
2. If you make eye contact you lose the right of way
3. If the stop sign is red it’s optional
4. Rotaries/roundabouts do no have designated lanes
5. The vehicle with more rust has the right of way

DO NOT yield to people who have a stop sign when you have right of way. There is no such thing as courtesy in city driving.

I’ve seen too many people stop for people who have a stop sign.

If you are driving in the right lane and see an Uber stopping in the left lane, trying to merge into right, do not yield. He will stop in front of you and put his hazards on. Guaranteed.

Your entire driving philosophy changes depending on whether or not it's between 7a-9a and 2p-6p.

I think I have a Rand McNally folded map from 1996 I can loan you.

The first comment here is straight up telling OP to cut people off.

Amazing.

Take your time. There’s a lot of congestion in the city between the cars and pedestrians. Try to stay calm and move at a steady pace. And above all else, don’t stop moving unless you’re truly off the road. As someone else said, if you end up in a wrong lane or miss a turn, just keep moving. It’s not that big a city, and there’s usually a place to turn around soon enough.

What part of the city are you going to?

if you missed a turn let the GPS reroute you, don't cross 5 lanes to make a left or right turn at the very last second.

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If you are lost don't drive 5mph and causing traffic behind you, just keep driving and let GPS do its things.

6. If you are attempting to turn left at a stop light, pull forward as much as you can to block the box so you can turn after the light turns red.

You could always drive to Quincy Adams and just take the red line

7. Expect 3 more cars after your light turns green

Where are you driving from and too? May be easier or harder but I can maybe give you some route specific tips. I drive in and all over the city most days for work

All excellent advice. I'll just add that you should go the speed you're comfortable with and ignore all tailgating and honking. People speed, but you don't have to.

Don't block the box.

If you can’t go because the light is red, you will be honked at. If you can’t go because you’re trying to turn and there is rapidly approaching oncoming traffic, you will be honked at. If you can’t go because there is a crosswalk right in front of you with pedestrians actively in it and beginning to drive would mean running them over and the car behind you can see that, you will be honked at. Everyone on the road is rude and you will be honked at :)

You won’t know until you know. I think your approach is right: just do it. Expect traffic delays.

Boston is not on the grid system, it follows old street patterns which include cow paths. Everyone drives offensively, so you will not get any sympathy from your fellow drivers. They will treat you like an out of towner and beep when you F-up. You may also find yourself one minute in the city and the next in a neighborhood with no skyline not knowing where you are. Bring GPS.

My suggestion is plan for a lot of time, and get out of town before rush hour. Park in a garage if possible if you are going somewhere as street parking is difficult with all the cars.

Make sure to actually look over your right shoulder before turning because you will end up murdering a cyclist if you don’t

If you come to a rotary just jump right in and don't make eye contact, it's a sign of weakness.

I'm comimg down from south central NH to the roadrunner venue for WEEN!

What's the box?

I was going to say that if someone even remotely looks like they’re about to cut you off they will.

Do not panic if you end up in a tunnel, lose GPS signal, and end up 2 miles from your destination (maybe even on the other side of Boston Harbor). It happens to all of us.

If you're feeling afraid while entering a large, busy roundabout...good. The fear is what keeps you safe.

If you take I-90 into town at 7-8pm on a Saturday it shouldn't be that bad. It's worth a couple of bucks for the toll to save yourself the aggravation. You'll just be driving down a highway, get off on to Nonantum Rd (which just runs along the river) and then only have like 3-4 blocks of actual "city" driving to your destination.

>Mansfield Mass is the busiest place I've ever driven.

Take the commuter rail lol

Ah, nice! I lived right by there for many years. You’ll have no problem driving in Brighton, it’s nothing like being downtown. Enjoy the show!

2 miles past the tunnel (in any direction) is really far, relatively speaking.

You know where you are parking?

Have that figured out, with a backup plan. It won't be free.

As someone who moved here recently i have a few tips:

1. Dont think if it as driving. It's go-kart racing with red lights and cyclists. Just drive as erratically and unsafely as everyone else and you'll be fine
2. Avoid roundabouts if possible. For some reason these idiots call it a rotary which means they don't know what to call it OR how to use it
3. Take the T. All these spoiled city slickers complain, but the trains and busses here form an expansive network and can get you most places without risking vehicular manslaughter bc these people have no regard for their own safety or yours.

Above all, always remember that the people here drive like suicide bombers and you should be ok.

People are gonna honk at you. Fuck em. Pay attention. Go 5 over if you can. That’s it really.

True. Yet somehow I managed to do this when I was new here and had no concept of direction in Boston.

Wot