Category Archives: Boston

Starting today and running through June 15, Uber users can request a water taxi from BHC to navigate Boston Harbor. The temporary offering makes me wonder if this is a test or beta run for Uber. Pricing remains competitive with a fee of $10 per person for a one-way ride plus a $1 Uber booking fee; 20% gratuity is automatically added.

Service is available starting today and running through June 15; Monday through Saturday from 6:30 AM – 10 PM and Sunday from 6:30 AM – 8 PM.  Sign up with the promo code UBERBOAT14 and your first two rides are FREE.

More details about UberBOAT! can be read here.

Last week while I was reading local blog, We Love Beantown, I stumbled upon Boston Flummox. This online game asks you – How well do you know the Boston MBTA subway?

You have 60 seconds to unscramble as many MBTA subway stops as you can.  It is a fun distraction if you’ve not tried it yet – check it out.

Boston Flummox

Not from Boston? The game also exists for the metro systems in Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, London, Manchester, Perth and Sydney.  Let me know how many stops you unscramble in 60-seconds.

Do you hate doing laundry? You may want to check out this new app from Dhobi that is asking to be your laundry concierge. They will even service / repair and clean your shoes.

I have not used Dhobi, which currently only offers service in Boston, but if you are interested you can get more information about Dhobi from their website here.

Let me know your thoughts if you use the service.

Have you heard of Bridj?  Earlier this month The Boston Globe referred to it in their article as a first-of-its-kind “pop-up” bus service. Whatever you call it bridj is scheduled to begin trial runs in May with at least 4 nonstop commuter routes in Brookline, Boston, and Cambridge (see image below).  If successful, plans include adding up to 18 routes in the next three months to help commuters get around town.

Initial Bridj Routes

Bridj trips start at $5 – $8 so they are more expensive than MBTA but the fact that rides come equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, leather seats and complimentary snacks seems to appeal to the more than 3,200 who have signed up for the service. Matthew George, a 23-year old Middlebury College graduate and founder, says that by harnessing data available he can accurately predict areas of peak demand and adjust his schedules on the fly to meet demand.

 If you are intrigued you can learn more on their website, www.bridj.com, and like them on their Facebook page here.

Source: Uber
Click on image to enlarge

This week Uber released a map of Boston, showing high-traffic areas for their drivers and shedding insight into what the Boston Globe referred to as where Boston’s “young and affluent” live.  I’m not sure why they might assume it is only the young who use Uber but the map is interesting nonetheless.

Boston, neighborhoods like the Back Bay, the South End, and an increasingly gentrified South Boston are heavily represented as are campuses and high-traffic areas like Logan Airport and downtown.

Do you use Uber? Are you more partial to other similar services like Hailo or Lyft?  These new companies have been a boon to consumers and have completely disrupted the stranglehold that a few taxi companies have maintained through the antiquated medallion system I ranted about back in 2012 here, Boston needs more taxis.

Last week Thrillist compiled a list of things everyone needs to know about my hometown, Boston. A lot of these lists, while often humorous, miss the mark, but I’m giving Thrillist high marks for humor and accuracy.

Are you from the area or have you lived in Boston? Curious about visiting Boston? Check out this funny but true collection of 21 things you need to know about Boston.

Some of my personal favorites from the list include:
5. “Wicked pissah” means “really good” Accents aside, the local lexicon has lots of peppah. If you need a water fountain, ask for a bubbler (or bubblah). We also put jimmies (NOT sprinkles) on our ice cream, and buy booze at a packie. See my past posts explaining this here, here and here.

11. The cab situation is abysmal You won’t get one when you need one. You will be treated like a pariah if you call dispatch. You can’t hail a Boston cab in Cambridge, or a Cambridge cab in Boston (Dumbest. Thing. Ever.) My tip: load a car service app like uber or lyft to avoid those nasty taxi dispatchers.

17. The street system defies geometry and human logic It looks like the work of a 5yr-old using a broken Spirograph. Every street is one way in the opposite direction you need to go. Just walk and forget driving. My tip: walk, get a Charlie card (Boston’s metro card) or use the bike sharing program, Hubway. If those suggestions aren’t practical re-read my tip regarding cabs; do not rent a car you will regret it.

You can read the full list here.