The MBTA subway system (commonly known as "The T") is old. In fact, portions of the Green Line constitute the oldest subway system in North America. In recent years, the T has entered into a process of modernization (which, in some moments, causes service interruptions and delays) that includes putting new vehicles into service and expanding the system. However, the T is an indispensable option for getting around Greater Boston Area and, specifically, to BU.

BU is lucky to have several stops on the Green Line "B" along with the Charles River Campus. In fact, the "Boston University Central" and "Boston University East" stations are located just outside of the BU College of Arts and Sciences, where most of the economics graduate classes take place, and really close to the Economics Department. The Green Lines "C" and "D" are also within walking distance from the campus. The T's fare of the T is $2.4 per ride.

As a complement to the T, Greater Boston also has a network of buses. The network is efficient, but as in any major city, traffic might cause delays. The bus fare of the T is $1.7 per ride. BU also has several bus stops along with the campus:

• Routes 57 and 57A. Connect BU with Watertown Yard and Brighton, respectively, going through the Allston neighborhood.

• Route 47. Connects BU with Harvard Square, on the one side, and with South End and Lower Roxbury, on the other.

• Route CT2. Connects BU with Northeastern University, on the one side, and with Cambridge and Somerville, on the other.

Like in many cities, the subway and the bus are part of an integrated system. Transfers in the system are available up to two times within 2 hours of your first trip, and you pay only the cost of the highest-priced service. For instance, you can first take the T, pay its rate, get off and take a bus towards your destination without paying extra. Similarly, you can first take a bus, pay its rate, and then take the T paying only the difference between the bus and the T rates. More information about transfers can be found at the MBTA site.

Cash is accepted in both of them. Though no change is available, the machine gives back a ticket (CharlieTicket) that can be used to pay for future rides.

I strongly recommend getting a CharlieCard from an MBTA worker at any of the major T stations (Kenmore is the closest to BU). These are refillable cards to which you can add value at T stations, T cars, buses, or authorized retail locations. The CharlieCard allows you to board the T and the bus quickly, and you ride at a discount. In addition, you can also get daily, weekly, or monthly passes, which allow unlimited travel on the T and the bus for the duration of the pass. Once you have a CharlieCard, you should create a MyCharlie Account, which allows you to add value online, buy passes and restore your value into a new CharlieCard if the previous one is lost, damaged, or stolen.

Now, if you expect to use the T and bus system very often, such as part of your daily commute (or at least more than 9 rides per week), then you will want to purchase a semester pass for a flat amount at the beginning of the semester. This allows unlimited travel on the T and the bus for the duration of the semester (four months). The semester pass offers an 11% discount with respect to the regular monthly T pass price. You can find more details about the semester pass on the BU Parking & Transportation Services site.

All of the mapping and timetable information that you might need can be found on the MBTA website. Also, Boston's trains and buses are equipped with GPS, which means that you can find out when the next bus you want will arrive at your stop using Google Maps or Citymapper apps, among others.

The bicycle is a popular mode of transportation in/around Boston. Within the city, it's cheap, fast, and relatively convenient. There are usually plenty of places to park your bicycle wherever you go, and the city has an increasing number of dedicated bike lanes that have helped to make biking even more comfortable. While biking in the dead of winter is not always feasible, this can be a great way to get around for most of the year.

However, you may find that cyclists sometimes have a poor reputation in the U.S. for failing to obey traffic laws and being reckless. You will probably see some cyclists wearing headphones while biking, cycling without a helmet, riding the wrong way down one-way streets, and engaging in other behaviors that can be dangerous to themselves and inconsiderate to others. Don't be one of these cyclists! If you're going to be biking regularly, I strongly encourage you to learn about local bicycle laws at MassBike.org and to learn about general bike safety and BU-specific bicycle policies on the BU Bike Safety site. A little knowledge and some common sense will go a long way toward keeping you safe!

If you buy a bike or have one, be sure to invest in a solid lock. A cable lock would not do! So get a good "U-lock" style lock. While bike theft in Boston is not as much of a problem as it may be in some other cities, it is still very much a concern, even on campus. Register your bike with the BU Parking & Transportation Services so that they can be helpful in the event that it is stolen. There are plenty of outdoor bike racks across BU. You can also request to get access to the indoor locations at Warren Towers and CILSE bike rooms.

If you do not have a bike and you are not planning to get one, you can consider getting a Bluebikes pass or membership. Bluebikes is the public bike share program in the Boston Area (Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville). It consists of a system of stations where you can rent and unlock a bike. After that, you have between 30 to 45 minutes to use the bike and return it to a station. Extra charges are applied if you do not return the bike on time. You do not need to have a membership to get a bike, you can get a single trip or a daily pass. However, it is considerably cheaper to get a monthly or yearly membership.

BU students are eligible to get an annual membership at a discount. More information can be found here.

Remember, no matter what you may see others doing, it's always a good idea to wear a helmet, use a headlight and taillight at night, avoid distractions such as headphones, and generally obey traffic laws. BU offers free helmets to anyone who incorporates bicycling into their commute to the university. You can pick them up from 9 am to 5 pm at the Office of Judicial Affairs (25 Buick Street) or the Parking & Transportation Services (1019 Commonwealth Avenue).

BU has a shuttle system that runs under a regular schedule along with different stops free of charge to the BU community. Even though its main purpose is to connect within and between their campuses (Charles River, Fenway, and Medical Campus), the BU Shuttle could be a good option if you live in Longwood or South End neighborhoods. It can also save you some minutes if you live in the Allston area and you walk to the school.

There are different lines of the BU Shuttle that differentiate each other based on the campuses they connect to and the stops they make.

• Charles River and Medical Campuses connection. This line could be a useful option if you have to go to the Boston Medical Center or the Symphony area or if you live in the Allston or South End area.

• Charles River and Fenway connection. This line could be helpful if you decide to live in Peabody Hall or in the Longwood area.

• Charles River connection. This line covers only the Charles River Campus along Commonwealth Avenue.

Buses are equipped with GPS, which allows live tracking of their route on the shuttle website. However, in some cases, the GPS might not work, so I encourage you to follow them on Twitter (@BUShuttle). In addition, BU has developed the Terrier Transit app, which gives you information not only about the different lines of the BU Shuttle but also about the public T and buses.

Most BU students do not own cars. Driving and parking around Boston can be pretty expensive. However, in some circumstances, such as if you plan to leave town frequently or often travel to rural locations, you may consider buying a car. Buying a car will involve many different costs, such as maintenance and insurance, and that discussion is beyond the scope of this website.

In case you already have a car and you want to commute every day to BU, you should consider getting a BU parking permit. However, I strongly suggest using the semester pass as another commuter option. In order to identify which permit type fits your needs and eligibility, you should review BU Parking & Transportation Services site.

If you find yourself needing a car - but infrequently - try Zipcar. Zipcar is easy, as it allows you to book a reservation through your phone, then simply show up to a car, unlock it with your membership card, and be on yours. Insurance and gas are included in the cost, and the cars are scattered throughout the city, which means there's usually one nearby when you need it. To use Zipcar, you must become a member. BU has a special arrangement with them which gives you a membership discount. Depending on your home country, you will need to provide different documents in order to join. However, the whole process (verification, approval, and Zipcar delivery) could take some time, depending on your home country.

Regular car renting services are also available near BU. For instance, Enterprise has a location around the BU campus. Given this, they are used to dealing with students and, in some cases, they might offer special conditions and rates.

If you want to get out of town, consider taking an intercity bus or a train. Greyhound is the largest US bus company. However, people consider it to be terribly run.

For trips between large cities (especially between Boston and New York), there are many smaller companies that provide frequent, inexpensive, and high-quality service. I have experience with Megabus and Bolt Bus, both of which are reasonable options, though there are others. Their prices vary, but they are generally quite cheap, and most of these buses have complimentary wifi.

For train travel, Amtrak is your only option. Taking a train to other major cities on the East Coast can be a very good option; it is certainly a comfortable and relaxing way to travel, and the trains make stops in smaller locations that may be difficult to reach by the intercity bus companies. However, Amtrak tends to be more expensive than taking a bus, and it is not usually much faster since even the U.S. high-speed trains are relatively slow.

If you are looking for a bus or a train ticket, search at Wanderu or Omio. Like any metasearch platform, they give you several possibilities for your trip, including bus, train, and flight options.

Boston's Logan airport has many domestic and international flights, and for more specific international travel needs, it is generally easy to get connecting flights to the major international hubs of New York's JFK airport and Newark airport.

In searching for most domestic flights, Kayak is a good option, though there are many others. Most of the major US domestic airlines provide similarly mediocre service, so you don't need to worry about which airline you will be flying to most of the time. Some airlines whose flights do not show up on the major travel websites are Southwest and Frontier, which offer many inexpensive flights and are often worth checking separately.

Airport and air travel security in the US is taken very seriously, so I strongly advise you to learn about the security requirements ahead of time and be prepared before you show up at the airport. This will make your life easier when traveling.