Bluebikes is public transportation by bike. The system is jointly owned and managed by the Cities of Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Salem, and Somerville and the Town of Brookline. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the system’s title sponsor. Riders can find 400 stations and 4000 bikes across 13 municipalities in Metro Boston. Since 2011, more than 20 million trips have been taken by bike share.
Boston's original bike share program, Hubway, launched in 2011 and quickly became an essential part of our transportation network as a fun, efficient and affordable way to get around. In 2018, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts became the title sponsor for the system and the name was changed to Bluebikes.
Bluebikes, like other bike share systems, consists of a fleet of specially designed, sturdy and durable bikes that are locked into a network of docking stations throughout the city. The bikes can be unlocked from one station and returned to any other station in the system, making them ideal for one-way trips. People use bike share to commute to work or school, run errands, get to appointments or social engagements, and more.
Fall 2007
The Bostonbikes program was founded, and the City of Boston decided to bring bike sharing to the Boston area. Since they knew that it had to span municipal boundaries, The Metropolitan Area Planning Council joined the effort, leading the open bidding process that led to the selection of an operator for a regional bike share program. Soon after, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville joined Boston and committed to bringing this exciting new initiative to their communities as well.
Spring 2011
In April of 2011, Boston signed a contract with Alta Bicycle Share to operate the Hubway system. Alta Bicycle Share has since been purchased by Motivate, who took over the contract in January 2015.
Summer 2011
The original Hubway system launched on July 28, 2011 with 600 bicycles and 60 stations throughout Boston. Far exceeding expectations, within 10 weeks Hubway bikes had logged more than 100,000 rides, and by the end of November had more than 3,600 annual members. A strong community of users formed during this first season that took an active part in the success of the system.
Winter 2011-2012
Hubway closed for its first winter, but membership continued to grow in anticipation of the return of the bikes in the spring. Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville each joined the system, and the four municipalities signed a collective regional agreement, and have worked together to create a unified regional system, making Hubway the first truly regional bike sharing system in the U.S.
Spring 2012
In less than a month after the March relaunch, Hubway riders logged an additional 50,000 rides, proving that bike share was not a passing fad.
Summer 2012
During the summer of 2012, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville launched stations, and Boston further expanded its fleet of stations and bikes.
Fall 2012
By the end of the 2012 riding season, 108 new stations and over 1,000 bikes were in service on both sides of the Charles, ensuring that Hubway had become an integral part of life in Metro Boston.
Summer 2013
Hubway riders surpassed the 1,000,000 ride mark in July 2013.
Fall 2013
By Thanksgiving 2013, Hubway riders had taken 1,500,000 rides. In mid-November, the City of Cambridge announced that it would participate in a pilot program to maintain Hubway operations year-round for the first time (which they have continued in subsequent winters).
Winter 2013-2014
By the end of the year, Hubway had nearly 10,000 annual members, and in 2013 alone had sold more than 79,000 Day Passes, 9,000 3-Day Passes, and 2,000 Monthly Memberships. Cambridge portion of the system remains open year-round.
Spring 2014
Hubway adds an additional 10 stations - for a total of 140 stations and 1,300 shared bikes across Brookline, Boston, Cambridge and Somerville. Over 1.7 million miles logged by riders since the launch in 2011.
Winter 2014-2015
For the second year in a row, Cambridge announces that most stations will remain open throughout the winter. Other municipalities operate through the end of November. The entire system sees 1.1 million for the total year.
Spring 2015
Hubway bikes & stations come out of hibernation on April 17.
Fall 2015
Hubway installs 11 new stations in various neighborhoods and expands to new neighborhoods including Brighton and Roxbury.
Summer 2016
Hubway expands to more neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge. In Boston, stations are added to Dorchester and Roxbury, and 10 additional stations are added to East Boston, continuing to expand the service area to new neighborhoods. In Cambridge, 15 stations are added in various locations.
Fall 2016
Hubway users take their 5 millionth ride!
Winter 2016-2017
Hubway experiences the most expansive winter riding season yet, keeping stations out through the end of November in Boston, Somerville and Brookline - with all stations remaining out in Cambridge.
Fall 2017
Hubway announces a huge expansion of the network – with plans to fill in current service area as well as serve completely new neighborhoods like Mattapan, and increase station density in Roxbury, Dorchester and many more. The system has continued to expand to more than 185 stations with 1,800 shared bikes.
Spring 2018
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts sponsors Metro Boston’s bike share system and the name was changed to Bluebikes. With BCBSMA's support, people who visit, work in, or live in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline can look forward to an even bigger and better bike share program.
Spring 2019
In Spring of 2019, the Bluebikes system expanded into the City of Everett. This marked the first time the system expanded into a new municipality for the first time since 2012. 12 stations were added to the City of Everett, greatly expanding Metro Boston's bike share network.
Summer 2020
In Summer of 2020, the Bluebikes system expanded to 5 additional municipalities: Arlington, Chelsea, Newton, Revere, and Watertown. The expansion to these municipalities is partially supported by MassDOT and Lyft, the operator of the Bluebikes system.
Summer 2021
In Summer of 2021, the Bluebikes system expanded to the City of Salem. The expansion to these municipalities is partially supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield and Salem State University.
Fall 2022
In Fall of 2022, the Bluebikes system expanded to the Cities of Malden and Medford. The expansion to these municipalities is partially supported by a grant from MassDOT.