MBTA Bus Route 71

[73 — inbound to Harvard sq — Mt Auburn @ Ralph Piteri]
During peak hours (7 am-​9 am) it is possible a bus may pass by. Although the 71 does come on time it is less frequent than the 73. For that reason it can be packed in the morning and some stops get passed. If you make it out there before 7:15 you will most likely be picked up. I wish the 71 came more frequently in the morning going towards Harvard. At peak hours in the afternoon (5 pm specifically). The 71 is jammed packed during the school year! I have to catch the 71 in the Harvard bus station or else I do not get picked up. Many people have waved to the bus as we pass by because of overcrowding.
I have called the T numerous times and get a similar response that there is nothing they can do and to write a letter to our congressman.

This is my bus route and I mostly love it. It is fairly regular and i have had very few issues. I don’t take it as much as the hubby but I have not had any issues really. Only one time in recent memory, I had to pick up my husband at Star Market in Cambridge when the bus broke down with no relief in sight. Unlike some people I talk to in town, I love the fact that I can get to most places I need to with public transportation. As a kid, we even got all the way to Natasket Beach which fascinated me as a child — we could get «all the way» to the beach by mass transit.
My only grip would be that whenever I am waiting for it at the Harvard station it «feels» like the 73 comes by way more than the 71 but the powers that be tell me that is not the case. One day I will sit there and document my findings but until then I guess it is only anecdotal.

The 71 shows up pretty frequently, so most of the time it’s as tolerable as a bus ride is going to be. I often even get a seat. The times when it doesn’t show up for a while during rush hour are the worst, because everyone ends up sniffing each other’s armpits and doing that domino effect thing because one person didn’t hold on…
Also it’s cool that it’s electric, although I wish it were still an actual trolley as opposed to the utter bullshit that is a «trackless trolley.»

I work in Newton Corner, and Watertown Square is just a 10 minute walk away down Galen Street. And in the lovely square is where this bus lives. I love this bus line because it’s literally a 15 – 20 minute ride to Harvard Square, runs very often, and it’s just super convenient. It does get pretty packed at rush hour, but that’s okay. I’d rather take this bus to Harvard than taking the express bus across the pike and then to the red line.

I don’t hate you as much as I used to, but that is only because I now live in between Mt Auburn and Belmont, so I ca take either the 73 or the 71 to get myself home.
I will forever hate how it always seems like there’ll be 3 73s rolling by to every 71. Maybe its all in my head, but maybe it’s not.

The 71 is to the MBTA buses like diamonds are to gemstones.
WHY ARE THE OTHER BUS LINES SO AWFUL?!
One star. Because the MBTA won’t improve other bus lines and the 70 needs love, too, jerks.

This bus is pretty reliable, and very efficient for getting from one square to another. You never have to wait more than ten minutes. However, on some mornings no buses will come for like ten minutes, and all the built up waiters swarm the bus when it finally comes, and another 71 drives up right behind it!!! that really annoys me.
the temperature on the bus is WAY too cold, I have horrible goosebumps every day. other than that, not many complaints!

Where I hold hostility towards the 73, I hold less towards its fraternal twin, the 71.
This bus actually runs on time for the most part, has yet to break down on me, and takes me home.
In addition to this, you’re electric.

One of the few bus routes that actually follows some semblance of its schedule. It’s actually worth your time to look at the schedule. I know! Unheard of in the land of the MBTA.
This bus will take you to a magical land not often visited by outsiders (i.e Watertown). But one with amazing Syrian grocery stores filled with tasty goodies, the fantastic and vegan-​friendly Deluxe Town Diner, and of course the jawesome Cosmo Funtiques.
Oh, 71, you are a harsh mistress! Even though your drivers have evolved to the point of verbal communication with passengers (not just the standard grunts or pretending not to hear), you have regular problems breaking down due to your elaborate electrical system. Fossil fuels may be evil, but they do make things run more reliably.