Boston installs new bike washing machine, free service costing taxpayers up to $57K

The City of Boston is offering a free bike-washing organization in the Seaport by way of an automated machine that retails for more than and has sparked specific internet backlash The cycleWash is an automated bicycle washing system designed to promote sustainable transportation the Boston Planning Department wrote on social media alongside a video depicting use of the machine It is located in the Raymond L Flynn Marine Park at Drydock Ave and is available to the general for free through a partnership with the City of Boston The Planning Department first noted the bike washing machine s installation this past April and disclosed it will remain open and free to the population until next winter The cycleWash was created by CW Cleaning Solutions and the pro black or pro platinum model that appears to be depicted in the city video retails for according to the company website A regular-sized standard version is listed at while a mini version of the bike-washing system costs per the company s website Mayor Michelle Wu s office and the Planning Department did not respond to a Herald inquiry on how much the machine or the partnership with the manufacturer is costing taxpayers The Herald first raised questions with the city more than days ago This is an exciting partnership where we re able to provide masses land for society use and highlight an exciting emerging innovative business Rebecca Tomasovic the planning department s director of real estate says in the city s video Mayor Wu s office and the Planning Department also didn t respond to additional inquiries from the Herald about whether the new machine was being used in different techniques than intended as was indicated in a social media post from a popular group account Only in Boston that alerted countless people to the city s new bike washing system earlier this month Related Articles Boston Mayor Michelle Wu holds -point lead over Josh Kraft new poll finds Councilor Boston s Mass and Cass drug emergency is worsening the city s rat infestation Pols Politics Massachusetts Gov Maura Healey sees surging popularity in new poll Disgraced ex-Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson sentencing pushed to September Boston Mayor Wu touts office to housing conversion success with -plus units under construction Several X users bashed the city s use of taxpayer dollars and questioned why cyclists were being prioritized for a free cleaning while motorists have to pay for a similar institution Where s our free car washes seeing we pay all the taxes used for this utter waste of our money a commenter with Dawn Girard as a username wrote Dumbest thing I ve seen yet Where s our audit The Cycle Wash station outside the Marine Park Garage at Drydock Avenue offers cyclists a place to clean their bikes Libby O'Neill Boston Herald