Consider These Factors Before Renting a Bluebike in Boston

Before we say anything else, let’s be clear: Bluebikes is a great program, and Boston is a better city because of it. This bike-share network kicked off in 2011, back when it was called Hubway, and more than a million rides were taken within the first two years. Bluebikes has helped normalize cycling, reduce traffic, and provide efficient transport for inner-city Bostonians with places to go and people to see. Unlike so many bike-share systems, Bluebikes is municipally owned, so most of the subscription and rental fees stay local. In a city that has never been easy to get around, this initiative maintains a fleet of more than 4,000 bikes, which are parked at 450 stations across 13 municipalities. This is an amazing feat, and something Massachusetts should be proud of.

That said, first-time tourists shouldn’t expect to just jump on a Bluebike and go, especially if they’re not confident urban riders. Boston is confusing, congested, unforgiving, and downright dangerous to ride in, even if you know the city well. The same goes for satellite communities like Cambridge and Somerville, which will all feel like the same city to newcomers; the whole metropolitan area can feel like it’s conspiring to destroy you, and the minimalist Bluebikes may seem ill-prepared for the curbs, potholes, cracked pavement, hairpin turns, sudden stops, red-light-running cars, and general mayhem that await you at every block and intersection. Most visitors will take this historic New England walking route, while others will puzzle out Boston’s train system, the T. Many hardened souls will drive through Beantown in a car, braving some of the most hair-raising traffic in the Northeast. Finally, a few will try Bluebikes, which are also available to anyone with an app. But be warned: Pedaling around Boston is hard.

But what if you are a seasoned urban cyclist? The Boston area is still tricky, yet active visitors may be surprised by what they find: at least 59 miles of off-street paths and 17.5 miles of separated bike lanes, with plans to add 10 more miles in the near future. The Charles River Bike Path is a 23.7-mile loop that extends from the distant suburb of Waltham to the Museum of Science in downtown Boston, with lovely forest and dynamic river views all along the way. Cambridge, which is directly across the river from Boston and is basically indistinguishable to most tourists, regularly tops lists for “best city to ride a bike,” largely thanks to cycling infrastructure and local enthusiasm for pedal-power. All the above dangers still exist, and Bluebikes can still feel clunkier than, say, a carbon-framed racing bike, but if you’re experienced and prepared, they’ll absolutely suffice.

The Boston area is also home to a feisty cycling community, including the Charles River Wheelers, the nonprofit Bikes Not Bombs, and Boston Bike Party, a free monthly group ride that regularly attracts 1,000 or more attendants. Once you adapt to local traffic patterns and know where the routes link up (and don’t), a Bluebike is a terrific way to enjoy these initiatives and make local friends — always a nice excuse in a famously unfriendly town. With so many museums, historical landmarks, and global eateries to visit, an app-based bicycle system is the perfect means of seeing it all. Just, please, get yourself a helmet.