Boston BLUEBikes 2024 Rates: What You Need To Know

With spring weather encouraging people to get out and ride a bike, there are some key Boston BlueBike adjustments to be aware of. In fact, most of the changes will begin next month.

First, there will be a price increase. "To support our system expansion in the Boston area, including new ebikes, we’re increasing membership prices on April 11," BlueBikes says.

Though it's easy to get caught up in the fee's increase the point the city bikeshare organization is trying to drive is that under much of their new structure, riders only pay for what they utilize.

Given that the bike-share model is a membership-based platform, an annual fee is always required. Now, the annual cost to be a member will be $133.50 per year. It used to be $129. The monthly fee will also increase; however, this option only goes up $1.50 to $30.50 per month.

Next, the overage fees will also change this spring. This is really where the "pay for what you use" format comes into play. Members will see smaller overage fees by the minute. The overage is 25 cents. It used to be a larger $4  overage charged by the half-hour.

The same changes just noted will also apply to Adventure Pass members.

If your bike ride is for a longer amount of time the overage charge will be even smaller. "Member rides over 45 minutes will now be $0.10/min instead of $2.50 per additional 30 minutes," they explain.

As you may know, the city BlueBikes program also now included Ebikes as part of their fleet. The good news here is that this plan and applicable rates will not change.

There are now over 4,000 bikes available in the greater Boston metro area. They are spread throughout 450 different stations. Boston.gov calls it "a fast, fun, and affordable way to get around Metro Boston."

Through the BlueBikes home site, you can explore where each location is and which is closest to you.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.