Thank you for your interest in Bluebikes. Bluebikes is Boston's regional bike sharing system that gives members access to more than 4,000+ bikes and over 400+ stations, designed to offer a public transportation option, similar to a bus or train.
This kit will provide you with some core statistics of Bluebikes' operations, links to public ridership data, and hi-res, print-ready images.
This media kit was updated in May, 2022.
Bluebikes' solar-powered stations consist of a variable number of docks, plus a kiosk that can be used for purchasing a Single Trip or Adventure Pass valid for 24 hours, finding nearby stations, seeing real-time bike availability, and more. Some stations are equipped with key dispensers, and members can select to have new keys mailed to them or to retrieve them directly from a station. There is also a two-sided information panel which displays a map of the service and usage instructions.
Customers can ride without a key using the Bluebikes mobile app. Launched in Summer of 2017, the app allows you to take out bikes, plan routes, and receive push notification updates.
There are stations serving every line of the T, commuter rail and ferry, as well as more than 60 bus routes to accommodate multi-modal trips. Bluebikes employs 4-5 rebalancing vans, each with a payload of 20-25 bikes, are used to redistribute bicycles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bicycles are redistributed dynamically in response to real-time data.
Prior to 2017, Bluebikes was fully operational in Cambridge throughout the winter. For the 2017-18 winter, Bluebikes was fully operational in all four municipalities. Some on-street locations were relocated or removed due to safety and snow removal.
View all active stations on the Bluebikes System Map.
Fast Facts
- Launched on July 28, 2011, with 610 bicycles and 60 stations throughout the City of Boston.
- In the summer of 2012, the system expanded to Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville.
- By the end of 2013, the system footprint covered approximately 20 square miles, and by the end of 2015, 25 square miles.
- In June 2017, the City of Boston announced plans to add more than 70 new stations beginning in 2018. Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville later announced plans to expand, as well.
- By Fall of 2017, the system grows to 185 stations with 1800 bikes operating in all four municipalities.
- By the end of 2018, after the largest expansion to date, the Bluebikes system grew to 262 stations and 2500+ bikes.
- By the end of 2019, after the second year of major expansions, the Bluebike system grew to 325+ stations and 3500+ bikes.
- In 2019, the city of Everett joined the Bluebikes system adding 11 stations and marking the first time a new municipality has joined the system since 2012.
- In 2020 the municipalities of Arlington, Chelsea, Newton, Revere, and Watertown joined the Bluebikes system. The total number of stations grew to over 350 and the total number of bikes grew to 3500.
- In 2021 the City of Salem joined the Bluebikes system. The system grew to over 400 stations and 4000 bikes.
- In 2022 the cities of Malden and Medford joined the Bluebikes system.
- Bluebikes is owned by the governments of the Cities of Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Salem, and Somerville, and by the Town of Brookline. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council oversees the interaction and use between municipalities.
- Bluebikes is operated by Motivate, which operates some of the largest bike share systems around the world, including New York's Citi Bike, Chicago’s Divvy Bikes, Washington D.C.'s Capital Bikeshare, and Portland's BIKETOWN. Each system has a different operating profile based on the scale.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the title sponsor of Bluebikes.
Additional Tools & Resources
Please direct all media inquiries and requests to media@bluebikes.com.
