Bluebikes

My first visit to Boston & this was my preferred mode of transportation. From my experience the app was very accurate as to the number of bikes at each location I used. The system is easy to use & I definitely got my $’s worth considering how many miles I rode. The navigation through the app is as accurate as can be expected, taking into account the amount of construction in the city. Once you figure the city out it’s not difficult to go one more block & find the next one way street to keep you going in the correct direction. Or just wander around like a dumb tourist like I did most of the time.

I rarely wrote any reviews, but using Bluebikes is such a nightmare that I can't help but writing these down. I used Bluebikes for only a week to commute, but technological problems have already occurred 3 times. The primary issue was that I couldn't end the ride. The last time when I used bluebikes, I tried two stations to return the bike, but all the docks didn't work. I contacted the Customer Service; the representative found out that the stations were disconnected, and then simply told me to return it to another station. It was pretty late and the station was away from my place, so I asked them to send some technicians here. They told me that I could leave the bike at the station, and then the nightmare started. Every 24 hours the app would remind me that I was still using a bike. Then I contacted the Customer Service. Then they told me they already contacted the operation team. For FIVE days, apparently no operation team showed up. I went back to the station; the bike was properly docked there. I took photos, sent them to the Customer Service, asked them to end the ride for me, and then they told me AGAIN they would work with the operation team...I don't know how this will end. I don't understand how or why the company could have turned such a great idea of bike sharing into such a hateful product. It could have made others' lives more convenient and themselves a little profit. Now I would rather spend more time and money on other means of transportation than touch bluebikes again. I should have decided not to use it when the technological issue happened to me the first time.

I should have read all the reviews before daring to rent a "city bike". I can't understand how this company gets away with charging customers for errors that arise from their own logistical challenges. Can't the city of Boston demand of their contractors, something better for their citizens? I am having the exact same experience that other users here. Rented 2 bikes, had to ride more than 5 extra miles than my original plan as the 5 different docking stations that we found were either full or not "online", returned both bikes at the same time in the same docking station, received a notification in the app that the ride was done, but then the next day I noticed that a timer was still ongoing in the app. Come to check, the trip is still open for one of the bikes. Customer service tells me that I never returned the bike and that I will be liable for the $1,200 penalty. No solution offered other than "return the bike to the docking station", I went back the next day and no bike with the mentioned number is to be found. This is very frustrating. Please don't ever use this system, but if you absolutely have to, document everything, record videos and take photos. Sadly, Do not trust this company. And cover all your bases.