Hubway is expanding

Today, Boston Bikes celebrated New Balance Hubway’s 2016 operating season with high-fives, ice cream, and the news of more Hubway stations coming to Boston!

Yes, you heard that right. The Barr Foundation has provided a generous grant to the Boston Transportation Department for ten new stations in Roxbury and northern Dorchester this summer. The goal is to build a highly connected bike share network in these neighborhoods, so that all residents in those areas live within a 5- to 10-minute walk of Hubway.

This will be the most significant expansion in one targeted part of the city since New Balance Hubway’s launch in 2011. While we know we have a long way to go to achieve the full potential of bike share in Boston, this expansion will help pave the way to future stations in other neighborhoods.

Map of Expansion Area

Where exactly will these stations go? Well, that’s where we need your help. The process of choosing a location for a station is anything but simple. We start by looking at all the locations that have been requested to date and consulting community organizations, businesses, and residents to get the super-local view of where stations are needed.

Next month, we are holding two community workshops to talk about what makes a good location for a New Balance Hubway station. Attendees will work together to prioritize general locations for new stations. We’ll consider four key criteria:

1. Proximity to existing network 
2. Future growth 
3. Known gaps and chronic outages
4. Local travel patterns 

We will then take feedback from these workshops and develop several specific, viable site options for each general location. Considerations like permitting, solar exposure, utilities,  and other infrastructure on the streets and sidewalks constrain where a station can actually go. The stations take up at least 41 feet, and ensuring the safety of Hubway users, pedestrians, other cyclists and drivers is critical.

Once we develop these options, we will hold two community open houses in early June to gather input on site alternatives. Dates and locations of the meetings are below.  

Since we know not everyone can make it to community meetings, we’ll also deploy several street teams to gather input at community events and on busy street corners in Roxbury and Northern Dorchester. We’re honored to have the help of young people from the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club, Bikes Not Bombs, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, and the Mayor’s Youth Council who will take the lead in conducting these surveys.  At the same time, we will provide opportunities for input online or by text message. Stay tuned for more details!

If you would like to receive updates about this expansion and other Hubway news, click here to sign up for the Hubway newsletter.  

Mark your calendars:

Part I: Community Workshops – work with other participants to prioritize general locations for Hubway stations

• May 12, 6:30pm - 8:00pm  Roxbury YMCA
• May 14, 10:00am - 11:30am Dudley Square Library

Part II: Community Open Houses – drop in to review specific site options  for each general location

• June 9, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm Roxbury YMCA
• June 11, 10:00am - noon Grove Hall Library