Bluebikes Riders Take 10 Million All-Time Trips


9/24/2019 • 5 years ago

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Bluebikes station

On Friday, September 20, riders across the Boston Metro Area completed 10 million Bluebikes trips since the public bike share system’s launch in 2011. To celebrate, the public bike share system honored the rider of the 10 millionth trip with a three year Bluebikes membership, and gave away a free year of membership to the ten following riders.

So far in 2019, Bluebikes riders have completed nearly 2 million trips -- 35% growth over the same period in 2018. Additionally, Bluebikes has seen 46% more unique riders than last year. Since May 2018, the municipal owners of Bluebikes -- Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville - and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the title sponsor of Bluebikes - have added over 100 stations and 2,000 bikes to the system. Bluebikes now covers more than 50 square miles, from Everett, to West Roxbury, to East Boston, and to Alewife. By bike, the distance from a Bluebikes station in Everett’s Glendale Square to one in West Roxbury in Boston is more than 15 miles.

“Bluebikes is a critical part of Boston’s public transportation system, and it is an important part of our goal to deliver more equitable and sustainable mobility options,” said Boston Chief of Streets Chris Osgood. “We look forward to working with our partners on the next 10 million trips.”

"Bluebikes has been a terrific partnership, providing additional transportation options for area residents and visitors. Active mobility options such as Bluebikes help us fight ever-increasing congestion, where nearly half of all trips are under three miles,” said Heather Hamilton, Brookline Select Board Member..

“The 10 million ride milestone is a testament to how important Bluebikes is as a travel resource across our municipalities, and we join Boston, Brookline, Everett, Somerville and the system sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, in celebrating it,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “In Cambridge, Bluebikes has become an integral part of our sustainable transportation system, with 63 stations across the city and additional expansion planned this fall.”

“Bluebikes is an essential part of the transportation network, providing our community with a convenient and inexpensive transportation option and advancing Somerville’s goal of becoming one of the most bikeable communities in the country,” said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Congratulations to Bluebikes, its many members, and our regional partners in this effort on reaching this exciting milestone.”

“Bluebikes has experienced steady system growth and an increase in happy riders across Greater Boston since launching last May and we’re thrilled to celebrate this latest milestone,” said Kathy Klingler, chief marketing officer at Blue Cross. “As a company committed to healthy living across the Commonwealth, we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to further expand the Bluebikes system, increase access to bike sharing and set new milestones for years to come.”

To commemorate the 10 million rides milestone, Bluebikes is throwing a family-friendly evening celebration at The Sinclair (52 Church St.) in Cambridge on Thursday, October 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The special event will feature giveaways, complimentary food, limited-edition Bluebikes tees, raffles, and games. Artists for Humanity will also unveil their one-of-kind unicorn bike. For full event details and to RSVP, click here.

Annual Bluebikes memberships are $99, and provide for unlimited 45-minute rides over a 365 day period. Discounted memberships are also available for income-eligible individuals who participate in a wide array of assistance programs. Income-eligible memberships cost $5 for a monthly pass or $50 for an annual pass, each including unlimited Bluebikes rides of up to 60 minutes each. These memberships do not require an annual commitment and can be cancelled at any time.

The Bluebikes system is owned by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville. As a publicly owned bike share system, Bluebikes promotes equity of access for members, ensures that memberships remain affordable, and protects members’ personal data. The station-based system promotes riding and commuting across city lines, preserves predictability and management for the public right of way, and allows for the continuous monitoring of bike availability and maintenance needs.

About Bluebikes

Bluebikes is public transportation by bike. Owned and jointly governed by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Everett, Cambridge, Somerville, Bluebikes offers a fast, fun, and affordable transportation option. Users can ride any of the 3500+ bikes to and from the 325 stations across the region. Since launching in 2011, nearly 10 million trips have been taken on Bluebikes, including nearly 2 million trips so far in 2019.