Bluebikes To Expand In Boston

BOSTON — If you don't yet have access to the city's public bike share program in your neighborhood, it might be on its way. This mayor just announced an expansion that will bring service to new parts of West Roxbury, Roslindale and Dorchester and provide more stations within the existing service area. By the end of the year there will be more than 50 new stations.

"BTD and neighborhood residents worked together to determine the best locations for the new bike share stations and I look forward to more communities using Bluebikes later this year," Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement.

The Boston Transportation Department has been planning this expansion with residents and community organizations since 2017. The department's Active Transportation team has hosted some 42 public meetings and workshops, attended a dozen neighborhood meetings and met one-on-one with many community members and stakeholders, according to the mayor's office.

Last year, BTD added 51 stations. Eighty-five percent of Boston residents are within a 5-7 minute walk from a Bluebikes station, up from 67 percent in 2017, according to city data. This is an increase of over 116,000 residents.

With the increase came a new record for the system: Last year, there were 1.7 million trips taken by Bluebikes. This summer riders regularly took more tha 10,000 trips a day.

Bluebikes is owned and managed by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett and Somerville. Collectively, the cities and town will offer 345 stations by the end of 2019, a 79 percent increase from 2017.

Walsh's FY20 budget included $1 million to bring bike share to parts of Boston for the first time, including locations in Dorchester, Roslindale and West Roxbury. The FY20 budget also allocates $10.6 million for spending on bike lanes and projects, including more than $1 million for major bike corridors.

This year, Blue Cross Blue Shield MA has made additional investment in Boston to expand Bluebikes access at many community health centers across the city. Look for collaboration with the Dimock Health Center and Codman Square Health Center to include additional programming and supports for residents interested in biking.

This summer, residents are invited to join one of two bike rides exploring parts of Boston. A free Bluebikes trip and helmet will be provided to those who register in advance.

• Wednesday, August 28 in Mattapan
• Thursday, September 5 in Allston

BTD also provides opportunities for adult women and gender non-conforming individuals to learn how to to ride a bike or brush up on their skills. Upcoming learn-to-bike clinics include:

• Wednesday, July 31 in Hyde Park
• Wednesday, August 7 in Charlestown
• Saturday, September 14 in Lower Roxbury
• Saturday, September 28 ion East Boston
• Saturday, October 12 in Lower Roxbury

An annual Bluebikes pass is $99 per year, granting users unlimited 45-minute trips. Monthly, daily, and single trip passes are also available. People who participate in public assistance programs, or who meet income-eligibility requirements, are able to purchase a 30-day pass for $5 or a year-long pass for $50. Bostonians experiencing homelessness or living in transitional housing are eligible for a year-long pass for just $5.

Check out the Bluebike map: