Salem Adds 7 New Bluebike Stations Ahead Of Busy Halloween Season

SALEM, MA — Salem has nearly doubled its number of Bluebike rental and return stations just in time for the busy Halloween season.

The new stations allow for greater access to the bike rental kiosks near Salem State University and comes as officials are looking to mitigate traffic coming downtown during October.

"Expanding access to Bluebikes in Salem helps further connect our city and make more neighborhoods and destinations reachable by bike," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll. "With 15 total stations now located throughout Salem, our residents, students, workers, and visitors have more access to this healthy, fun, and sustainable way of traveling — while also reducing our city’s reliance on passenger vehicles and their associated climate and congestion impacts."

The city launched its Bluebike program in 2021 with eight stations with the expansion coming through American Rescue Plan Act funding, municipal funding and support from Salem State and sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

"We are proud to expand our partnership in this program, which increases our campus community's access to biking as a healthy, fun and environmentally safe way to travel," Salem State University President John D. Keenan said.

The new locations are:

• Salem State University - North Campus
• Essex St at Dalton Parkway
• Forest River Park
• Salem MBTA - Lower Level
• Community Life Center
• Goodhue St at Grove St
• North St at Liberty Hill Ave

A full map of Salem locations can be found here.

To see a full Bluebikes station map – including all stations in Salem – click here.

"We're committed to leveraging our title sponsorship of Bluebikes to make it easier for more individuals in Greater Metro Boston Area to experience the benefits of public bike share," said Jeff Bellows, vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs at Blue Cross. "With Salem's successful and enthusiastic launch of Bluebikes last year and the addition of seven new stations, we're thrilled to help broaden access to the bikeshare system across Salem and to support residents, students and visitors looking to lead healthy and sustainable lifestyles."

Riders can purchase annual Bluebikes memberships — which include unlimited 45-minute rides — for $119 a year or $26.75 for 30 days. A discount program, where annual passes are $50 and 30-day passes are available for $5, is available for residents with eligible incomes.

Free 30-day Bluebikes passes are available to anyone during the MBTA’s Orange Line shutdown.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)