MOVING DAY: A guide to moving on Sept. 1 in Boston and surrounding areas

BOSTON — No one likes moving, but on Sept. 1 in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, the normally painstaking experience becomes something dreadful.

With that in mind, here is a guide for people moving around the City of Boston and its surrounding communities.

Do not take moving trucks on Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive

For people who live in and around the city, it’s well-known the 2-lane river roads go under low bridges. For people from other places who are less aware, the roads appear to be an easy way to avoid the Massachusetts Turnpike. Without fail, several trucks hit the low overpasses each year, something referred to by many locals as “getting Storrowed,” causing traffic to back up and delaying everyone.

>>MORE: Merry 'Allston Christmas'! A busy weekend in Boston for Moving Day

Properly dispose of your trash

This might seem like common sense, but every year people who have lived in apartments for the past 12 months inevitably have items left over they can't bring with them. The ensuing phenomenon is called "Allston Christmas" by those in-the-know. People who aren't afraid of picking something up on the side of the road are likely to find spare furniture – but that doesn't mean it's clean.

Get a City of Boston parking permit

You might – MIGHT – get away with parking on a city street for a few hours on Sept. 1, but your luck will run out and before you know it, the parking tickets under your windshield wipers will stack up. Boston parking stickers are different for each neighborhood and are required for vehicles parked on most city streets.

The city restricts parking on a few streets near campuses to allow moving trucks to pull over.

Parking restrictions in Boston for 2018 (Some changes may occur for 2019)
https://www.boston.gov/news/parking-and-traffic-restrictions-during-2018-student-move

How to get a permit in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville:

Reserve a parking spot for your moving truck in Boston
https://www.boston.gov/reserve-parking-spot-your-moving-truck

How to get a street occupancy permit in Boston
https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/how-get-street-occupancy-permit

Apply for a moving van permit in Cambridge
https://www.cambridgema.gov/iwantto/applyforamovingvanpermit

Apply for a moving container or crate permit in Cambridge
https://www.cambridgema.gov/iwantto/applyforamovingcontainerorcratepermit

Parking and traffic restrictions during 2018 student move-in
https://www.boston.gov/news/parking-and-traffic-restrictions-during-2018-student-move

Guides for new residents

Moving to Somerville: A New Resident's Guide
https://www.somervillema.gov/moving

Moving to Boston: A New Resident's Guide
https://www.boston.gov/moving

Student move-in

A guide to Cambridge
http://www.cambridgema.gov/

ALSO THIS WEEKEND IN BOSTON: Boston braces for controversial parade over holiday weekend

MORE: Moving? NH State Police say don't do this 

Cox Media Group