New England Diary

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Blue Cross Blue Shield in plan to expand Metro Boston bike-sharing

Zagster bike-sharing station on a corporate campus in Burlington, Mass.

This is from the New England Council (newenglandcouncil.com)

"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) recently entered a six-year partnership agreement with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and bike share operator Motivate International, Inc. to expand access to bike share in the metro Boston region.

"The existing Hubway system will be rebranded as Blue Bikes to reflect Blue Cross’ support for expanding the bike share system. Currently there are 1,800 bikes, but with Blue Cross’ sponsorship there 3,000 Blue Bikes by the end of 2019, and  more than 100 new stations. Blue Cross’ support will bring brand new bikes, new mobile app features, and more valet service at busy stations. The expansion and transition to Blue Bikes will begin in spring 2018.

“We’re delighted to partner with Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville on the Blue Bikes initiative. . . Not only are we helping to expand bike share access to communities that have long been asking for the program, we’re also living up to our company’s commitment to healthy living and to environmental sustainability,” said Andrew Dreyfus, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The bike sharing system will remain operated by Motivate and owned by the municipalities of Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville.''