Back in February we asked if a bike share program could be a game changer for cycling in Boston, and now an answer may be just around the corner.  Hubway, Boston’s new bicycle sharing system is launching this month, with an inaugural ride set for July 28^th.  The new system is a major component of the City’s bike strategy.  “Over the past four years, we have taken great strides toward making Boston a city that welcomes and encourages bicycling but this innovative bike share system may be the most significant step yet,” said Mayor Menino at a press conference announcing the new initiative last April.

The system will open with 600 bikes at 61 high tech stations in the Downtown, Roxbury, Seaport, Back Bay, Fenway/Kenmore, South End, Longwood Medical Area, and Allston-Brighton neighborhoods.  Annual memberships are $85 (currently discounted at $60). The first half hour of each ride is free. Bikes will be available 24 hours a day throughout the spring, summer, and fall months.

The Union is working with the City of Boston and other partners on a safety campaign to prepare the city for the influx of new riders.  Police from the City of Boston, Northeastern University, and Boston University plan to hand out warnings and citations to law-violating cyclists and motorists at 10 intersections that have been identified as high-risk for bicycle-car crashes.  The police will also provide free helmets to cyclists who need them.  In addition to these efforts, Boston Bikes will be distributing educational material and offering safety classes.  “This is a major opportunity to redefine the cycling behavior in Boston,” said Nicole Freedman, Boston’s “bike czar.”

For more information or to join, visit www.thehubway.com.