Comm Ave Construction? Green Line Shut Down: Hubway Responds $1 Rides, Extra Stations

BOSTON, MA— If you've been avoiding Comm Ave as construction crews have at the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge or are still trying to figure out the temporary bus, green-line and train routes and car detours on the 1.5-mile stretch of the avenue. High fives to you.

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If you live nearby or have to get in there and are wondering how the heck does one get anywhere down Comm Ave now that the multi million dollar, 18-day construction project has shut the thoroughfare all but down to public transportation?

Hubway has an app for that.

The operator of Hubway announced not only does it have a new app (it didn't really have one before) but it's offering a discount for app users "to help alleviate the challenges associated with the summertime construction."

How you ask does this pertain to the Comm Ave Construction? This stretch will remain open to people on bicycles, including Hubway, and pedestrians.

Through the new app, for both iPhone and Android, riders can score a limited time $1 single ride, or $20 off a new annual memberships.

“With major work planned for Commonwealth Avenue, our hope is that Hubway’s new mobile app can provide a convenience for Bostonians who need to find new ways around town,” said Hubway General Manager Katie O’Connor in a press release this week. The company is hoping folks who've never tried the bike share program will take advantage of the reduced-cost fares and test it out.

Other fun things the app allows? Current Hubway members can log-in to access more of their ride statistics, track calories burned and miles traveled. It also lets riders check for available bikes and docks in real time.

Also, there will be two temporary Hubway stations on Commonwealth Avenue during the construction period: One at Babcock Street and another at SilberWay.

Hubway Ambassadors will be assisting users at these temporary locations Monday through Friday from 7 a.m – 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., providing additional bikes on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All existing Hubway stations along Commonwealth Avenue and the rest of the Hubway service area will continue to operate during the construction period, according to the company which, for those of you who missed it started in the Boston area in 2011. Also: you don't have to be in the Comm Ave Area to take advantage of the Hubway app deal.

Today, Hubway has more than 1800 bikes at some 180 stations across Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville. It's owned by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville, and operated by Motivate.

Hubway is operated by Motivate, which also operates Citi Bike in New York, Capital Bikeshare in Washington, DC and Ford GoBike in the Bay Area.

To download the Hubway app visit thehubway.com/app.

For more information about the shutdown visit MassDOT’s project page: www.mass.gov/massdot/commavebridge

Photo of Comm Ave the day before the shutdown by Jenna Fisher/Patch