Party like it’s 1985, because the red line subway reopened Friday between stations at Alewife and Park Street. Over the past 10 days, the MBTA replaced rail and floating slabs and upgraded a signaling system, among other work.
During the shutdown, riders found alternate transportation options, such as taking commuter rail trains from Porter Square or the express shuttle from Harvard Square. Some traveled multimodally, taking buses or biking to active T stations before riding to their destinations.
While some riders tried a multimodal route for the first time during the shutdown, a growing number of riders have been practicing it daily. The Central Square Bluebikes Station at Massachusetts Avenue and Essex Street, on top of the red line station, has become the second-most-used station in the Bluebikes network.
The MBTA also supports biking to stations on personal bikes. Some stations have Pedal and Park facilities – secure bike parking built into T stations.
Pedal and Parks are secure, enclosed parking areas for 50 to 150 bikes. They have surveillance cameras and controlled door access, and they’re free to use for CharlieCard holders.
Though 95 percent of MBTA subway stations have bike parking, only a select few have full Pedal and Parks. Cambridge and Somerville are well-represented among these, with facilities at Alewife and Davis on the red line and at six of the green line extension stations (Lechmere, Union Square, East Somerville, Magoun Square, Ball Square and Medford/Tufts).
Step 1: Register a CharlieCard online
Pedal and Parks have controlled door access, so riders need to register a CharlieCard online to get access. Registration is free. The form requires riders’ name and address.
Once submitted, the system takes 15 minutes to grant access. Riders who haven’t yet been granted access can use the outdoor bike parking available at stations with Pedal and Parks.
CharlieCards were once the usual way to pay fares before 2024, when the T rolled out tap-to-pay screens for use with credit and debit cards and mobile wallets. Most subway stations still have fare vending machines for CharlieCard. There is no cost beyond the standard fare.
Step 2: Tap in and lock up
Riders tap a CharlieCard to get access. Once inside, they lock their bike to any available rack, and that’s it. From there, riders take the T to their destination, then return to pick up their bike. Bikes can be parked for up to 14 days.
Here’s what that process looks like at Alewife.
Alewife
Alewife has the most extensive bike parking system on the T, with three Pedal and Parks around the station in addition to outdoor parking.
The east facility is directly accessible from the Cambridge Linear Path and Somerville Community Path. The west station is best for people coming from the Minuteman Bikeway, Fitchburg Cutoff Path or the Alewife Brook Greenway. The south facility is more centrally located and good for riders coming up from the Watertown-Cambridge Community Path. Riders can try the other Pedal and Parks easily if one reaches capacity.
Each facility comes with a cardboard cutout of an MBTA officer stationed inside. Transit police in 2013 credited his watchful gaze, along with real cameras and a lock, with a 67 percent decrease in bike thefts. The cutout is of real MBTA officer David Silen.
During a visit Friday, each unit had several bikes parked – but plenty of space for more users.
Bike activities calendar
Boston Cafe Bikers. Boston Cafe Bikers rides at 10 a.m. Saturday from Cambridge Common to the Kickstand Cafe in Arlington for coffee. Free.
E-Bike Adventure Rides with Casa Bikes (recurring). Every other Thursday and Saturday, bring your own e-bike or borrow one of Casa’s. The next ride is 6 p.m. Thursday. Free.
Intro to Bluebikes group ride. The Allston Brighton Health Collaborative has a short demo followed by a beginner-friendly group ride around the neighborhood. Pizza, helmets (to keep!) and Bluebikes coupons are free at 11 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Herter Park Bluebikes station in Brighton. Free, but registration is required.
For more Boston bike events, see bostonbikeevents.net. (No affiliation with The Independent.)
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