User:Fencing1228/sandbox

As Bluebikes
On March 7, 2018, Hubway announced a six-year partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which included a system-wide re-branding as Blue Bikes, along with expanding the system to 3,000 bikes and adding over 100 new stations by the end of 2019. From its inception, the Boston portion of the system had been sponsored by Boston-based athletic company New Balance. The new sponsorship with Blue Cross covers all four municipalities. The name change took effect on May 9, 2018, with the release of new and re-branded bicycles.

On June 4, 2019, Bluebikes set a single-day ridership record with users taking 10,035 trips, the first time the ride-share has ever exceeded the 10,000-rider mark for a single day. The system continued to surpass its ridership records throughout summer 2019, hitting 13,642 trips in a single day in September. On September 19, 2019 Bluebikes passed 10 million total rides. Two years later on September 11th, 2021, Bluebikes hit its highest single day record with over 18,000 rides.

In 2020, Bluebikes expanded to Newton, Revere, Chelsea, Arlington, and Watertown adding over 30 new stations to the system. The following year in June, Bluebikes was launched in Salem with seven stations, bringing the system's span to 10 municipalities. Bluebikes continues to expand in 2021, with projects underway in Dorchester, Mattapan, and Hyde Park.

Income Eligible Program
Starting on October 5th, 2019, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts began to sponsor $1 single rides on weekends until the end of 2019 to help combat transportation challenges arising from MBTA shutdowns. Blue Cross has also donated $10,000 to the Bluebikes Income-Eligibility Program to increase affordability. These initiatives have helped to establish Bluebikes as an affordable, healthy, and consistent alternative to more traditional public transportation options in Boston.

[group discounts and college]

In addition, Bluebikes provided free trips with one-time use codes to travel to polling places and COVID-19 vaccination sites. On each Monday of August 2021, Bluebikes offered complimentary Adventure Passes for the day as a part of their celebration for National Wellness Month. The campaign was titled "Mindful Mondays" and was sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Equipment
The system uses bicycles designed and manufactured by Montreal-based PBSC. The majority of docking stations are also supplied by PBSC while the newest docking stations are designed and manufactured by 8D Technologies. The platform behind the bike share system is created by 8D Technologies, who also supply the server technology for BIXI Montréal, Citi Bike in New York City, Santander Cycles in London, Capital Bikeshare in Washington DC, and others.

Each Bluebike comes with a basket, adjustable seat, and kickstand. For safety during night-time riding, they have self-powered lights at the front and back of the bike. On the left handlebar, they are equipped with a 3-gear shifter.

On the app, docks appear as green when there are a sufficient number of bikes at the station. Conversely, they appear as red when there are little to none available. To unlock a bike, a person must first purchase a pass at the station or on the Bluebikes app. A five digit numeric code will be given. When a Bluebiker enters the code into a keypad next to the bike, the bike detaches itself from the dock. When a Bluebiker finishes their trip, they push the bike into the dock and hold it until the light next to the dock turns green to confirm a successful lock.

Types of Passes
A trip begins when a Bluebiker removes a bike from a dock. It ends when a Bluebiker returns the bike to the dock. With Monthly and Annual Memberships, bikers are allowed to take an unlimited number of trips per day, with each one lasting less than 45 minutes. The Bluebikes app tracks the time and length of each trip taken. If a Bluebiker exceeds the time limit of their pass, Bluebikes bills each additional 30 minutes for $2.50.