Blue Cross Funds Bluebikes Rides For Mental Health Awareness Month

BROOKLINE, MA — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has launched “Miles for Mental Health,” a month-long Bluebikes campaign to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month and celebrate National Bike Month.

The campaign featured complimentary Bluebikes rides on National Ride a Bike Day, which took place on May 1, and will continue to offer free Adventure Passes each Sunday in May across the Bluebikes system’s 11 municipalities, as well as and the chance to win an annual Bluebikes membership.

Blue Cross, title sponsor of the publicly owned bikeshare system, aims to provide local residents free Adventure Passes as an opportunity to support their mental health and find ways to integrate healthy activities into their routines. According to Blue Cross, regular exercise, including cycling, can ease stress levels and improve sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety.

“At Blue Cross, we’re dedicated to improving the mental and physical health of our communities,” Jeff Bellows, the organization’s vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs, said in a statement. “Our Bluebikes sponsorship reinforces our commitment to the whole individual— mind and body— especially this month at the intersection of Mental Health Awareness Month and National Bike Month. We’re excited to provide an opportunity to get outside, experience the full benefits of biking, and focus on self-care and whole-body wellness.”

Riders can take advantage of free Adventure Passes on May 1 by downloading the Bluebikes app on a mobile device and selecting “Adventure Pass.” Riders can use the following codes to access free Adventure Passes on each ensuing Sunday:

• May 8: BlueMiles08
• May 15: BlueMiles15
• May 22: BlueMiles22
• May 29: BlueMiles29

The initiative also includes “Take a ride, Give a ride,” which provides all riders who take a Bluebikes trip on May 1 with a free Adventure Pass to share with a friend and aims to reinforce the importance of supporting and reaching out to those who may be struggling with their mental health.

Additionally, individuals will be able to track how many miles they ride over the course of the month in the Bluebikes app and anyone who rides over 25 miles between May 1 and 31 will be entered into a raffle to win one of ten free annual memberships.

Blue Cross has been the title sponsor of Bluebikes since its launch in May 2018 and supports the system with station expansions, upgrades, and additional bikes. Bluebikes are currently available in Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown. A map of all Bluebike stations can be accessed here.