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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Sunday, October 10th, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts offered free Bluebike rides to celebrate World Mental Health Day, encouraging Boston residents to experience the mental health benefits of outdoor exercise.
Complimentary rides cover the Bluebike system's 11 municipalities: Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown.
Riders can claim their free ride by downloading the Bluebikes app on a mobile device and selecting "Get a Pass." Additionally, riders can use the "Take a ride, Give a ride" offer, where any rider who takes a Bluebike trip on World Mental Health Day can receive a free pass to share with a friend. Riders receive a code for the free pass via email during the week of October 11th.
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This the second year of Bluebike's World Mental Health Day event, as Jeff Bellows of Blue Cross said, "As we continue to experience heightened anxieties from the ongoing impact of the pandemic, it's important for all of us to prioritize our mental health."
Blue Cross went on to cite a survey done by Cycleplan in 2018 that found that 75% of people noticed an improvement in their mental health upon taking up biking, with 45% realizing improved sleep patterns- which can help reduce anxiety and depression.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports.
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