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Five new Bluebikes stations have been installed in Allston, bringing the neighborhood’s total to 18 stations. In addition, six sites have been approved for installation throughout August and September as part of Phase 3 of City of Boston’s bike share expansion program.

Bluebikes is Greater Boston’s public bike share program, where users can pick up a bike at one station and return it to another. Classic pedal bikes cost $2.95 for the first 30 minutes, with an additional $0.25 charged for every minute after that. Electric Bluebikes also start at $2.95, but there is no included ride time — instead, riders are charged $0.25 per minute from the start. There is also a membership program for frequent Bluebikes users.

For neighbors like Nikhil Dasgupta, it has been a welcome change.  

“In many cases, it’s really convenient. A bike is often the best option,” says Dasgupta. “For example, taking public transit might take 45 minutes, and driving could take 15 minutes plus another 15 just to find parking. But with a bike, I can get straight to where I need to go. BlueBikes are great for people who cannot or don’t want to invest in their own bike or deal with finding parking for their bike.”

The latest expansion builds on efforts launched in 2023 to increase station density citywide. According to the City’s website, the goal was to ensure “bikeshare stations are not too far apart from each other” and to “improve the reliability of the system.”

Following expansion in downtown areas of Boston, the City began planning to build additional Bluebikes stations in Allston, Brighton, Fenway, and Mission Hill in 2025.

In February, the City identified potential sites and shared them with the neighborhood through surveys and open meetings. Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative assisted in conducting community surveys to gather input on preferred locations.

When the public engagement period ended in March, the City began securing permits. While new stations began to be installed in July, permits and installation for additional locations remain in progress.

An interactive map displays the status of Bluebike stations in Boston. Courtesy of the City of Boston.

Barbara Parmenter, neighbor and former Tufts University urban planning professor, acknowledges that not all neighbors agree on the expansion of Bluebikes. But she encourages neighbors to keep an open mind.

“People should try it out to see for themselves — especially e-bikes, for those who are older like me,” Parmenter says. “So many people say, ‘Well, I can’t bike.’ No, you can. Actually a lot of us can. We just think we can’t. There are some of us who can’t, obviously, but some of us can, and with e-bikes, it is much more possible.”

Parmenter also points to resources available for new riders. The City hosts free adult “Learn-to-Bike” workshops, which provide bikes and helmets, and has several youth bike programs. Once participants gain basic riding skills, they can join Bluebikes Group Rides organized by the Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative, designed to help riders gain confidence and learn how to use the bike-share system. Residents may also qualify for discounted annual memberships — $5 for income-eligible individuals or $60 for those who have not had a membership in the past three years. ■