Blue Bikes: It’s Hubway’s new name under a deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield

The Boston region’s ridiculously popular bike-share system is changing its name to Blue Bikes under a six-year sponsorship deal with insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville will continue to own the system, and private firm Motivate will continue to operate it. The Blue Cross Blue Shield sponsorship, though, means a lot of money for a big expansion.

The number of bikes is due to expand to 3,000 from 1,800 by the end of 2019, and the former Hubway will add 100 new stations throughout the four owning municipalities.

The system recently added year-round service at most stations (read: even during the winter) and added several docking kiosks to boot. And, of course, as of last summer, there’s an app for it all.

• Hubway to offer most expansive winter service yet [Curbed Boston]
• Hubway expansion: Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville adding stations [Curbed Boston]
• Hubway mobile app rolls out for Boston bikers [Curbed Boston]
• Hubway sets ridership record: 1.27 million in 2016 [Curbed Boston]