Bluebikes support Boston commuters

Free 30-day Bluebike passes and bike valet service at four stations are supporting Greater Boston commuters amid a monthlong MBTA repair project, with ridership reaching record levels.

“We’ve seen 28,000 new riders who have taken more than 92,000 trips,” said Jeff Bellows, vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shields of Massachusetts, which is the title sponsor of the public bikeshare program. The not-for-profit health plan is funding valet service at four Bluebikes stations, expanding accessibility to the system at peak usage times, in partnership with the city of Boston, during the T’s Orange and Green Lines shutdown. “Bluebikers are breaking records for ridership since the start of the shutdown, an indication of the need for this healthy, sustainable option right now.”

The City of Boston is also funding free 30-day Bluebikes passes during the MBTA closure. Residents can download the Bluebikes app or navigate to Bluebikes.com/join and select a Monthly Membership. Existing Bluebikes users can log into their online account and select "Renew Membership." Current monthly members with auto-renew turned on will not be charged for the new pass this month.

The valet service is expanding bike and dock availability at some of the busiest stations. It is available to riders at select Bluebikes stations weekdays through Sept. 16, during the hours of 7-11 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.

Biking, Bellows noted, not only provides a convenient commute option and boosts physical health, but also can support mental health.

Regular exercise can help improve emotional health, build social connections and lower stress levels, and research demonstrates a link between biking and mental health. A survey by Cycleplan found 75% of respondents reported an improvement in their mental health upon taking up biking, with 45% reporting improved sleep patterns, which can help reduce anxiety and depression.

Broad options for cyclists

The Bluebikes public bike-share program offers an alternative for cyclists who don’t own a bike: 4,000 bikes for rent at nearly 400 stations across the Bluebikes system’s 11 cities and towns: Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown.

Bluebikes System Map

Bluebikes is owned by the system's 11 municipalities and operated by Lyft.