Bluebikes in Cambridge: How to Ride, Prices & Discounts
Use Bluebikes and e-bikes for short trips, commuting, and getting around Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, and beyond.
Bluebikes is Greater Boston’s public bike-share system, with thousands of classic bikes and electric-assist bikes available at stations throughout Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Watertown, Arlington, and other nearby communities. It can be especially useful for short trips, commuting, connecting with the MBTA, or getting around without owning a bike or car.
You can pay for a single ride or choose a monthly or annual membership. Before paying full price, check whether your employer, university, or another program offers a Bluebikes discount or bicycle commuter benefit—many people who work or study around Cambridge and Boston qualify for reduced-cost access.
How to use Bluebikes
Getting started takes only a few minutes. You can choose either a classic Bluebike or an electric-assist Bluebike.
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Download the Bluebikes or Lyft app
Create an account and add a payment method. You can use the official Bluebikes app or access Bluebikes through the Lyft app.
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Find a nearby station and bike
Use the app or the Bluebikes system map to find nearby stations, available bikes, and open docks. Stations are located throughout Cambridge and across the Greater Boston network.
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Choose a classic bike or e-bike and unlock it
Choose an available bike and scan its QR code in the app. Classic-bike ride time depends on your pass or membership. Electric-assist bikes have an additional per-minute charge.
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Ride safely and predictably
Follow traffic signals and signs, ride with traffic, and yield to people walking. Bluebikes strongly recommends wearing a helmet. Electric-assist bikes are not permitted on sidewalks.
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Return the bike securely
Return the bike to an available Bluebikes dock at your destination. Push it firmly into the dock and make sure the indicator confirms that the bike has been securely returned before walking away.
How much does Bluebikes cost?
Choose a single trip, short-term pass, or membership depending on how often you ride. Prices can change, so check Bluebikes before purchasing.
Single Trip
$3.00
One classic-bike ride of up to 30 minutes. Longer rides and e-bike use have additional per-minute charges.
Day Pass
$11.99
24 hours of access with unlimited classic-bike rides of up to two hours each.
Monthly
$30.50
Month-to-month access with unlimited classic-bike rides of up to 45 minutes.
Annual
$133.50
Unlimited classic-bike rides of up to 45 minutes, free unlocks, and reduced e-bike rates.
Bluebikes discounts and commuter benefits
Before paying full price, check whether you qualify for a discount. Employers, universities, income-eligible programs, and bicycle commuter benefits can substantially reduce the cost of Bluebikes.
Employer & school discounts
Bluebikes partners with businesses, universities, hospitals, governments, and other organizations to offer Group Memberships. Depending on the program, your organization may subsidize part or all of an annual membership.
Income-eligible memberships
Bluebikes offers reduced-cost memberships for qualifying riders. The standard income-eligible program is $5 per month or $50 per year, and some Boston residents may qualify for an even lower annual rate.
Bike commuter benefits
Your employer may offer a separate bicycle commuter benefit or reimbursement that can cover a bikeshare membership or other eligible bicycle commuting expenses.
Does your Cambridge or Boston employer offer a Bluebikes discount?
Bluebikes maintains a large Group Membership Partner program. Local participants include MIT, the City of Cambridge, the City of Boston, the City of Somerville, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Google, Akamai, Biogen, Moderna, Novartis, Pfizer, Ragon Institute, and many other employers and institutions.
Start with your benefits office. Eligibility and subsidies differ by organization. Search the full Bluebikes partner list, then ask your HR, transportation, benefits, or sustainability office for current enrollment instructions.
A few major local programs
MIT
MIT currently offers eligible employees and students a subsidized annual Bluebikes membership for $49 per year.
Harvard University
Harvard’s direct university Bluebikes discount ended July 1, 2026. Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and graduate student workers may still be able to receive reimbursement for a Bluebikes membership through Harvard’s Bicycle Commuter Benefit Program.
Tufts University
Tufts offers employees and students a discounted annual Bluebikes membership through its university program.
Use Bluebikes in Cambridge? Help make every trip safer.
Join Cambridge Bike Safety for local street-safety updates, community events, useful biking resources, and opportunities to help build safer and more comfortable connections across Cambridge.