Hubway Bike-sharing Station Arrives at UMass Boston
September 07, 2012
Crystal Bozek
The University of Massachusetts Boston has partnered with the city of Boston to install a Hubway bike-sharing kiosk on campus, giving students, faculty, staff, and community members the opportunity to rent bicycles and pedal between an array of stations throughout Boston.
Crews installed a 19-dock solar-powered Hubway station Friday afternoon across from the Campus Center, by the HarborWalk. A second kiosk was installed at the JFK/UMass MBTA station. The installation is part of UMass Boston’s ongoing efforts to encourage people to use sustainable methods of transportation on and off campus.
"We are very excited to bring the Hubway program to campus,” said Diane D’Arrigo, assistant vice chancellor for campus services. “As part of our transportation demand management efforts on campus, we are always looking at new ways to offer more convenient, alternative commuting options to the UMass Boston community and our neighbors.”
In addition to Hubway, UMass Boston offers bicycle racks throughout campus, a Zipcar car-sharing program, and a free shuttle service to the MBTA station.
"So far, we've gotten a very positive response since the Hubway station was installed," D'Arrigo said. "People are already using it to bike to Castle Island or to the MBTA station. We've received emails from students and staff, and people have come up to me to say they've tried it or heard about it, and they're thrilled."
The regional bike-share system continues to expand in the Dorchester and South Boston area, with a station recently installed at the South Bay Center shopping plaza. Hubway began service on July 28, 2011, with 600 bicycles at 60 stations around Boston. New stations have since been added across the city, and in Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville.
Cyclists can use a credit or debit card to purchase annual memberships at the electronic kiosk. In addition to annual memberships, riders can purchase a three-day or 24-hour membership — and any ride under 30 minutes is free with a membership. Bicycles can be returned to any Hubway station. For news, maps, pricing, and other general information, visit Hubway’s website at http://www.thehubway.com.
About UMass Boston
With a growing reputation for innovative research addressing complex issues, the University of Massachusetts Boston, metropolitan Boston’s only public university, offers its diverse student population both an intimate learning environment and the rich experience of a great American city. UMass Boston’s eight colleges and graduate schools serve nearly 16,000 students while engaging local, national, and international constituents through academic programs, research centers, and public service activities. To learn more about UMass Boston, visit www.umb.edu.
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Posted by Anna Njoro | Tuesday, September 11 2012 at 1:00 pm
The idea of providing hubway bikes is very significant to all the students and people who commute to UMass Boston. This will encourage a lot of people to use the bike and help to reduce the sedentary lifestyle of sitting on the bus or driving personal cars. As we know, there is an increase of obesity which is contributing to increased health issues that make health insurance to go up. If most people commute using hubway bikes, UMass Boston will set an example around the City of Boston as a whole. For example, in Europe, a lot of people use bikes to commute to work and other places. This will help to decrease traffic, accidents, and it is less expensive. Biking will help students to develop good attitudes, posture, and increased muscle mass. I encourage everyone who has a chance to cycle to take advantage and realize the benefit of the cycling.
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Posted by Earl | Tuesday, September 11 2012 at 4:40 pm
Curious- has anyone utilized the new Hubway yet… cycling onto campus? Would like to hear some experiences. I plan to try it soon. And do agree that it is a healthier avenue over driving my car.
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