Bluebikes expanding in the City of Boston
Fifty stations will be added in 2018, with another 30+ stations to come in 2019.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Transportation Commissioner, Gina N. Fiandaca today announced the first phase of the City of Boston’s Bluebikes bike share expansion. To kick off the largest expansion of bike share in Boston to date, the Boston Transportation Department will install 19 stations in southern Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roslindale in the coming weeks. As the service area expands, the City expects to see additional bike trips throughout the system, especially in job centers and nearby neighborhoods. To address this increased demand, another 30 stations will be added over the next few months in Boston neighborhoods that are already served by Bluebikes, and 30+ additional stations will be installed next spring.
“Boston residents have grown to value Bluebikes as one of the public transportation options available to them,” said Mayor Walsh. “I’m thrilled to be bringing our bike share system into additional Boston neighborhoods and I look forward to seeing more residents enjoying a Bluebikes ride this year. I’d like to thank our partners Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for supporting this expansion.”
Boston’s partner municipalities, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville, have also begun adding new stations. When the expansion is complete, the Bluebikes system will have more than 300 stations and 3,000 bikes across the four municipalities. To celebrate this new phase of our public bike share system, new riders can get a free 30-minute trip via the Bluebikes app or at ride.bluebikes.com/firstridefree in July and August.
“With Go Boston 2030, we set ambitious goals to improve equity and access in transportation,” said Commissioner Fiandaca. “I thank everyone who helped us plan this expansion over the last year. With your help, we are much closer to our long-term goals for transportation in Boston.”
With sponsorship support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the publicly-owned Bluebikes system has seen significant improvements in recent months. Bikes have been upgraded to include seat posts that accommodate a wider range of heights, improved gearing systems, new baskets, different types of handlebars, and a better bell. The Bluebikes Angels program was launched in early summer, rewarding riders who take trips that help their fellow riders by distributing bikes from stations that have too many and to stations that need more. Valet service has been added at more locations so that people starting and ending trips at some of the system’s most popular locations have a guaranteed bike or dock.
“We’re pleased to support the expansion of Bluebikes to neighborhoods that have previously not had the opportunity to participate in bike sharing,” said Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, title sponsor of Bluebikes. “We’re deeply committed to helping Massachusetts residents lead healthy lives, so we see bike sharing as a natural fit for Blue Cross.”
The Boston Transportation Department has been planning this expansion with residents and community organizations for the last year. In fall 2017, BTD hosted 28 public workshops and received hundreds of suggestions for bike share station locations. In early 2018, BTD asked the public for comments on 160 technically feasible locations. Feedback was solicited through online surveys and at 11 open houses. Signs were posted in many potential locations to alert the general public to the opportunity to comment on station locations. Comments were collected until June 1, and informed which stations will be installed this fall and next spring.
An annual Bluebikes pass is just $99 per year, granting users unlimited 45-minute trips. Monthly, daily, and single trip passes are also available. People who participate in some assistance programs or meet income-eligibility requirements are able to purchase 30-day passes for $5 a month or annual passes for $50 a year. For more information on the income-eligible program for discounted Bluebikes membership, visit bluebikes.com/pricing/income-eligible-program.
About BluebikesBluebikes is public transportation by bike. Owned and jointly governed by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville, Bluebikes offers a fast, fun, and affordable transportation option. Today, users can ride any of the 1,800 bikes to and from the 195 stations across the region. By the end of 2019, the municipalities will provide 3,000 bikes and 300 stations for their residents, workers, and visitors. Since launching in 2011, more than 7 million trips have been taken on bike share, including more than 930,000 trips so far in 2018.