Orange Line alternatives: Families and students get creative as shutdown looms

BOSTON — With the Orange Line shutdown just days away, a mother and daughter who recently moved to Boston were relying on the MBTA.

But they are now rolling out their own way to get to work and school.

“Yes, what I think I am going to do is, I’m going to try to bike,” said Mariza Rosado, who lives in Boston.

Mariza Rosado works in Boston and lives near the Forest Hills station on the Orange Line.

With the Orange Line soon to be out of commission, she’s committed to biking to work.

“I think, just like COVID, we were forced to do things differently. With the shutting down of the Orange Line, people are going to have to do things differently,” said Rosado.

Her daughter, Camilla, now goes to school in Dedham, and she also hoped to take the subway.

“I was looking forward to taking the Orange Line,” said Camilla Mangal, of Boston.

The MBTA, teaming up with Boston schools, now offers free Charlie Cards to 5,000 Boston students so they can do a trial run with their parents.

“It is free, you just have to show a Charlie Card. They’re not going to charge first, and I’m going to try it out,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.

As for Marissa and Camilla, both like the idea of taking a bike for the short term.

“I’m looking forward to it because I’m not used to biking to school,” said Mangal.

And her mom says it may just become a more permanent thing.

“Even though it’s a change, I’d like to try to bike more often around the Boston area,” said Rosado.

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