The short answer is no. The long answer is that it depends on your specific living and work situation.   If you live and work downtown, you do not need a car at all, and this extends to much of Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, and Winthrop. Not having a car means you can avoid having to worry about parking, traffic, and shoveling post-winter snowstorm. Boston’s public transportation system is good, especially when supplemented with ride referral services like Uber and Lyft. Here are some of your options:   Light Rail: The T Subway is the Boston Light Rail service that runs underground. It is the fourth largest Metropolitan Transit System in the US with color-coded routes for usability.   Bus: Boston Express Bus offers passengers several ticket deals depending on your specific needs. There is a commuter pass for those who travel to work via bus, same-day round trip, children’s fare, and monthly passes.   Commuter Rail: While the T subway covers the inner Downtown area, the commuter rail stretches further out. For those looking to travel to suburbs like Salem, Swampscott, and Beverly, the commuter rail is likely their best option. However, its schedule is more restricted than the T subway, especially on the weekends when some lines reduce their trains to every 2-3 hours.   Bikes: Bikes are ubiquitous in Beantown. Bostonians can take advantage of Metro Boston’s bike share program known as Bluebikes to travel easily throughout the city. Residents can become a member by visiting the Bluebikes website or downloading the app. They can also avail of different passes dependent on their needs. A single trip will cost you as little as $2.95 for the first thirty minutes and $2.50 for each additional thirty minutes. An adventure pass will give you 24-hour access to Bluebikes at just $10, while those looking to utilize the program more regularly can pay a monthly fee of $25 or an annual fee of $109.