Blue Cross to donate $10,000 to Bluebikes’ income-eligible program to support easier access to health care and promote sustainable transportation
BOSTON (September 18, 2019) — To support their ongoing efforts to increase accessibility to health care across the Commonwealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) and the City of Boston have announced the expansion of the Bluebikes system to seven new docking stations located at community health centers in Boston. Additionally, Blue Cross is donating $10,000, and Bluebikes operator Lyft is matching the donation, to further support the Bluebikes system’s income-eligible program, making both bike share and health and wellness services easier to reach for individuals across the city. Blue Cross is the title sponsor of Bluebikes, Metro Boston’s public bike share system.
To commemorate Bluebikes’ expansion to community health centers, Blue Cross and the City of Boston unveiled the first new station at The Dimock Center, which hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration today. The City of Boston Chief of Streets, Transportation and Sanitation Chris Osgood, The Dimock Center Vice President of Institutional Advancement Raquel Rosenblatt and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Vice President of Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs Jeff Bellows took part in today’s ceremony.
In addition to its donation, Blue Cross is offering a free one-month Bluebikes voucher to individuals who qualify for the bike share system’s income-eligible program. Blue Cross and Lyft are also launching a series of community events and rides that teach bike skills and safety.
“We are committed to increasing access to wellness and fitness opportunities for our members and the community through Bluebikes,” said Kathy Klingler, chief marketing officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “By enhancing the income-eligible program and adding stations at community health centers, we’re furthering our goal of expanding access to quality, affordable health care while also promoting a healthy, sustainable mode of transportation.”
The rollout of the newest stations enables more riders to be able to overcome the distance and cost burdens frequently associated with accessing health and wellness options. Blue Cross’ sponsorship of the new stations extends its ongoing partnerships with community health centers in Boston, including a recent donation to Fenway Community Health Center for every ride on a Bluebikes Proud bike during Pride Month in June.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Blue Cross on the continued expansion of the Bluebikes system, especially in efforts to make biking more accessible,” said Chris Osgood, City of Boston chief of the streets, transportation and sanitation. “We look forward to seeing the incredible benefit these new stations will be for residents and workers in Boston.”
Through its partnership with the municipal owners of Bluebikes (Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett and Somerville), Blue Cross is supporting continued growth and expansion, including system upgrades, additional bikes, new mobile app features and station expansions to create increased access. By the end of 2019, the five municipalities will own more than 3,500 bikes and 325 stations across the Bluebikes system. In July, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Transportation Department announced the locations of more than 50 new Bluebikes stations being installed by the end of 2019, including to new parts of West Roxbury, Roslindale and Dorchester, to make the bike share system convenient for more residents across the city.
