Cycling in Boston
Cycling in Boston has been a popular activity since the late 19th century for both recreation and commuting, and it has grown in popularity in recent years, aided by improving cycling infrastructure. It is especially prevalent around the campuses of the numerous universities in the city.
Different areas in Boston have varying degrees of bike friendliness.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a23676188/best-bike-cities-2018/|title=Best Bike Cities in America 2018|date=2019-10-10|website=Bicycling.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131214432/https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a23676188/best-bike-cities-2018/|archive-date=2020-01-31|access-date=2020-01-31}}
History
File:Looking northeast from Tremont Street into Scollay Square, August 1897.jpg
At the end of the 19th century, cycling was especially popular in Boston, and Outing Magazine at the time described Boston as "the bicycling paradise of America".{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/brookline/2010/06/on_biking_a_history_of_boston.html|access-date=October 25, 2014|title=On Biking: a history of Boston biking, from an author who knows it|work=Boston.com|date=June 23, 2010|first=Jonathan|last=Simmons}} The city's cyclists were pivotal in the formation of the national organization League of American Wheelmen, and Massachusetts had the largest per capita membership in the league in the 1890s and the largest percentage of women members.Finison, Lorenz J., [https://www.umass.edu/umpress/title/bostons-cycling-craze-1880-1900 Boston's Cycling Craze, 1880-1900], University of Massachusetts Press, May 2014, Access date: October 25, 2014
Bike sharing
File:Ruggles Bluebikes station 04.jpg
Bluebikes (named Hubway until 2018) launched as the city's bicycle sharing system on July 28, 2011 with 610 bicycles and 60 stations in the City of Boston.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehubway.com/mediakit|title=Hubway Media Kit|access-date=September 12, 2014}} The system expanded to Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville the following year. In subsequent years, docks were introduced in Arlington, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Salem, and Watertown.{{Cite web |title=Bike share in the Boston area {{!}} Bluebikes |url=https://account.bluebikes.com/map |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=account.bluebikes.com}} By the end of 2024, Bluebikes had deployed 5,500 bikes and 520 stations.{{Cite web |title=Bluebikes System Data {{!}} Bluebikes Boston |url=https://bluebikes.com/system-data |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=bluebikes.com |language=en-US}} PBSC Urban Solutions, a company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, supplied bikes and docking stations.{{Cite web|url=http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/redeye-divvy-bikes-helmets-vending-machine-20150507-story.html|title=Divvy may test-drive helmet vending machines at stations|last=RedEye|access-date=September 15, 2016}}
The system is operated by Motivate. In 2024, it had more than 29,000 annual members, with over 4.7 million trips system-wide.
From May 9, 2018, the system was rebranded as Bluebikes following a marketing deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.{{cite web|title=Hubway Trades Green For Blue Bikes Starting Today|url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/hubway-trades-green-blue-bikes-starting-today|publisher=Patch Media|access-date=June 3, 2018|first=Jenna|last=Fisher}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/ Bikes | City of Boston]
- [http://www.thehubway.com/ Hubway]
- [https://bicyclenewengland.com/2019/02/02/preparing-your-bicycle-for-winter/ Bicycle New England]
{{Cycling in different countries and cities}}