Boston Marathon 2018: When To Watch, How To Cross St In Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — So you're thinking about watching the Boston Marathon in Brookline? It's a perfect spot for it. The first participants start rolling through town just before noon after turning the bend in Cleveland Circle for that last - thrilling - push to the Finish Line near Copley. From about noon until 3 p.m. Beacon Street is transformed into one giant cheering station. What's a little tricker is crossing Beacon Street after 9 a.m. or before 5 p.m. And then there are a few other things to know about where NOT to park your car or bike leading up to Marathon Monday.

That's where our handy guide straight from the Brookline Police and the BAA comes in. Here's a little bit of everything you need to know about how things will work in Brookline ahead of Marathon Monday.

How *does* the pedestrian cross Beacon Street?

Beacon Street will close at 8:30 a.m. and reopen at 6:30 p.m. But what about getting to the other side?

There will only be four places in all of Brookline to cross the marathon route aka Beacon Street, as the entire length of the marathon is blocked off by those bright orange metal barricades. Why? You could get trampled or worse, you could put runners at risk trying to dodge you. After running 20 miles would you want to have to dodge someone with their groceries headed across the street?

Police will man the route and they will point you to one of the following places if they see you trying to climb over or scoot around the barriers.

Pedestrian crossings involve specially trained Marathon volunteers, they'll guide you to line up make a run for a spot in the middle of the street while directing runners well in advance to avoid you. Then once everyone from one side of the road is safe and sound in the middle of a huddle in the street, the volunteers will direct runners to the other side, letting pedestrians scoot out of the street and safely to the other ride. It's pretty fun to watch, too.

• Beacon and Hawes streets,
• Beacon and Webster streets
• Beacon and Tappan street.

But note, these crossings aren't going to be speedy and when the marathon is at its heaviest you'll just have to wait.

When to Watch in Coolidge Corner

• 10:20 a.m. - 10:34 Men's wheelchair division followed by the ladies, according to the BAA spectator’s guide.
• 11:45 a.m. - 11: 58 a.m. Elite Women and the Elite Men groups are expected to reach Coolidge Corner.
• 11: 58 a.m.? Look for the exciting first wave of runners.
• 2:45 p.m. is when the last wave of runners should start reaching the area at around 2:45 p.m.

If you're off to go catch the runners in Washington Square remember the runners are coming from that direction to factor in a minute or two earlier to catch them there, or a minute or two later for the wheelchair division or elites if you're off to watch at St. Mary's or closer to Boston.

What if I need a Ride share?

Good question. This year Brookline has designated pick-up and drop-off zones in town for anyone taking a ride share to watch or if you need to get out of town. Just make your way to the designated spot for pick up and that's where you'll be dropped off if you're going anywhere near Cleveland Circle/Washington Square or Coolidge Corner.

Cleveland Circle Area: meet your ride on Clinton Road near Chestnut Hill Avenue.
Washington Square: meet your ride on Winthrop Road at Garrison Road, or the Driscoll School parking lot at the intersection of Washington Street and Salisbury Road.

Coolidge Corner: Meet your ride at Sewall and Longwood avenues or by the Center Street West Parking Lot.

Brookline tow zones:

Police recommend just not parking along Beacon Street. Tow zone signs will go up Saturday, April 14. and go into effect on April 16 starting at 3 a.m.
Here are the tow zones:

• Beacon Street: west bound along the median strips, west bound curbside from Pleasant Street to Short Street, and eastbound from Cleveland Circle to Park Drive
• St. Paul Street: Sewall Avenue to Beacon Street.
• Harvard Street: Sewall Avenue to Beacon Street.
• Longwood Avenue: Sewall Avenue to Harvard Street.
• Marion Street: Park Street to Beacon Street.
• Washington Street: Fairbanks Street to Beacon Street.
• University Road: 100 University Road to Beacon Street.
• Winthrop Road: from Garrison to Beacon Street.
• Dean Road: Beaconsfield Road to Beacon Street.
• Strathmore Road: 21 Strathmore Road to Clinton Path.
• Tappan Street: Garrison Road to Beacon Street.
• Clinton Path: The whole thing.
• Fairbanks Street: The whole thing.
• Webster Street: The whole thing. Watch also for this to become a two way street.
• Sections of St. Mary’s, Carlton, Hawes, and Borland streets will also have restricted parking.

Move your bike:

If you have a bike locked to a pole along the route? Brookline Police will clip it off and take it to their lost and founds tarting on April 14.

What not to bring:

And if you've got drones or these, leave them at home Boston Marathon 2018 Security: What To Know

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File Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch