Free Bluebikes being offered to hospital staff
UPDATE AS OF JULY 6, 2020: When the state enters Phase 3 of its reopening plan, we will stop offering new passes. All passes will be good through their expiration date. There is no obligation to pay upon expiration. Many hospitals offer discounted annual passes. You can check for your employer on this website.
The City of Boston and its municipal partners of Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville offered all hospital staff a free 30-day pass for our public bike share, Bluebikes.
We offered a $20 discount code to all hospital employees. They applied this code to get our regular 30-day pass for free. The pass provides unlimited 45-minute trips. We thank Lyft for financially supporting this program.
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How to use Bluebikes
Bluebikes is public transportation by bike! You can use any of our 3,500 bikes at more than 300 stations throughout Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville.
- Go to the landing page provided by your hospital's contact.
- Complete the remaining steps. You will need to enter a valid credit or debit card number. You will be charged for any incidental fees, including, for example, overtime fees for trips longer than 45 minutes.
- After successful registration, you will be able to unlock bikes at any station using your mobile app or by dipping your credit or debit card into the kiosk.
- Adjust the seat post to your height. Secure your gear in the front basket. Be sure to check that the bike is in good shape to ride.
- Ride!
- Return the bike to any Bluebikes station. If the station is full, you can request a free 15-minute extension at the kiosk and head to another station nearby.
- Trips up to 45 minutes are free. If you ride longer than 45 minutes, you will be charged overtime fees.
- Be sure to push the bike into an empty dock. Wait until you get the green light to be sure it is locked properly. You are responsible for returning the bike properly to a station. Fees apply if you do not.
Staying safe
We continue to operate Bluebikes as an essential transportation service, whether as part of a trip to or from the T or as a trip from home to work.
Bikes are disinfected regularly, including high-touch areas such as handlebars and seatposts.
Additional safety protocols are in place to protect Bluebikes staff. High-contact surfaces on vans used to transport bikes (such as steering wheels, seatbelts, center console, and door handles) are disinfected at the start of each shift. Our team wears gloves when handling bikes. Staff is encouraged to take advantage of paid sick time if they are feeling unwell.
We advise all riders to follow CDC guidelines to stay healthy. Avoid touching your face once you’ve begun your ride. Wash your hands thoroughly after you’ve docked the bike. Stay home if you are feeling sick.
For more information on the COVID-19 situation in Boston, visit the City of Boston website:
Providing reliable service
To help employees living in Boston, we will re-install all in-street stations in the City.
These stations will help provide that quick trip to the T and those needed docks near the hospital.
UPDATE: We are currently providing guaranteed docks and bikes at our Charles Circle and Longwood Avenue at Binney Street stations. Check our Twitter account for hours and updates.
Our goal is to provide reliable transportation for all essential workers. We continue to monitor how our bikes are moving throughout the system. If we need more attention in particular areas, we can adjust our bike distribution to help match demand.
Common questions
Common questionsYou will have 30 days of access to the Bluebikes system. All trips up to 45 minutes are included at no charge. Trips longer than 45 minutes will incur an extra $2.50 per additional 30 minutes.
Our program will continue until further notice. Your 30-day pass begins as soon as you complete the sign-up process. All passes activated in late March and early April will be automatically renewed for another 30 days at no cost to you.
You can switch to an annual pass for just $99. Many hospitals in the Boston area offer a discount on annual passes. Check online for your employer's corporate discount rate.
No. Employees are responsible for any fees, such as overtime fees, lost or stolen bicycle feeds, and damage costs.
Only if they work at your hospital. This program is meant only for hospital staff.
No, your pass can be used by you only. It cannot be shared or transferred.
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