Divvy

In 2007, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley visited Paris, France, where he tested their Vélib' bicycle sharing system and was "greatly impressed".{{cite news|url=https://www.expatica.com/fr/chicago-eyes-paris-self-service-bike-scheme/|title=Chicago eyes Paris self-service bike scheme|publisher=Agence France-Presse|via=expatica.com|date=September 12, 2007|access-date=October 28, 2019}} He determined that a similar system would work well in Chicago.{{cite news|title=Paris' Popular Bike Program May Inspire Others |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14429468 |access-date=April 26, 2013 | publisher=NPR |date=September 15, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415170611/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14429468 |archive-date=15 April 2013 }} After returning from his European trip, Mayor Daley requested proposals from private partners to create a bike share system for Chicago. Two potential operators came forward but submitted plans that would have been too expensive for the city to fund.{{cite news|last=Doster |first=Adam |title=What Chicago Can Learn From Other Cities' Bike-Sharing Programs |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/April-2013/Chicago-Bike-Share/ |access-date=26 April 2013 |work=Chicago |date=26 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429153007/http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/April-2013/Chicago-Bike-Share/ |archive-date=29 April 2013 }}

File:Divvy installation at Pritzker Park-HD.webmIn May 2012, the City of Chicago awarded Alta Bicycle Share (acquired by Bikeshare Holdings LLC in 2014 and renamed to Motivate){{cite web |title=Bikeshare Holdings LLC Signs Agreement to Acquire Alta Bicycle Share |url=http://www.motivateco.com/news/2014/10/28/bikeshare-holdings-llc-signs-agreement-to-acquire-alta-bicycle-share- |website=motivateco.com/ |access-date=23 June 2015 |date=28 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160125064012/http://www.motivateco.com/news/2014/10/28/bikeshare-holdings-llc-signs-agreement-to-acquire-alta-bicycle-share- |archive-date=25 January 2016 }} a contract for "the purchase, installation, and operation of a bicycle sharing system".{{cite web|title=Contract 26459 Details |url=https://webapps1.cityofchicago.org/VCSearchWeb/org/cityofchicago/vcsearch/controller/contracts/display.do?contractNumber=26459 |publisher=City of Chicago |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091814/https://webapps1.cityofchicago.org/VCSearchWeb/org/cityofchicago/vcsearch/controller/contracts/display.do?contractNumber=26459 |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}

On June 28, 2013, Divvy launched with 750 bikes at 75 stations in an area from the Loop north to Berwyn Ave, west to Kedzie Ave, and south to 59th St.{{cite web|title=Chicago Welcomes Divvy Bike Sharing System |url=http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/news/2013/jul/chicago_welcomesdivvybikesharingsystem.html |access-date=8 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704222925/http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/news/2013/jul/chicago_welcomesdivvybikesharingsystem.html |archive-date=4 July 2013 }}{{cite web|title=City's Bike Sharing Program Launches Today |date=28 June 2013 |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/06/28/citys-bike-sharing-program-launches-today/ |access-date=8 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704085547/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/06/28/citys-bike-sharing-program-launches-today/ |archive-date=4 July 2013 }} A planned expansion of the number of stations in spring 2014 was delayed to 2015 due to supply shortages.{{cite web|last1=Weissmann |first1=Dan |title=Bike-sharing's big problem: missing bikes |url=http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/bike-sharings-big-problem-missing-bikes |website=Marketplace |date=16 July 2014 |publisher=American Public Media |access-date=31 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054316/http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/bike-sharings-big-problem-missing-bikes |archive-date=8 August 2014 }}

In October 2014, TWU (Transport Workers' Union) Local 100 of New York City filed an election petition with the NLRB seeking to represent "almost 70 full-time and part-time workers, including mechanics and truck drivers, who are paid $12 to $16 an hour."{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-divvy-union-1104-biz-20141103-story.html |title=Union seeks to represent Divvy workers |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=2014-11-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103222712/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-divvy-union-1104-biz-20141103-story.html |archive-date=2014-11-03 }}

The unionization effort came after employees of Citi Bike in NYC, owned by the same parent company Motivate (formerly Alta Bicycle Share), joined TWU Local 100 in September 2014{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/14/hubway-should-extend-good-efforts-its-own-employees/pA8zRhKA3AI75AwcC6GWJL/story.html#comments |title= Hubway should extend do-good efforts to its workers - the Boston Globe|website=www.bostonglobe.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308003130/https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/14/hubway-should-extend-good-efforts-its-own-employees/pA8zRhKA3AI75AwcC6GWJL/story.html |archive-date=2016-03-08}} and alongside similar efforts by employees of Motivate in Boston (Hubway){{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/business/news/2014/10/06/hubway-workers-seeking-union-representation/Nk9Y2nrjQlUOsbddW4AQnM/story.html |title=Hubway Workers Seeking Union Representation - Business news - Boston.com |access-date=2014-11-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103223041/http://www.boston.com/business/news/2014/10/06/hubway-workers-seeking-union-representation/Nk9Y2nrjQlUOsbddW4AQnM/story.html |archive-date=2014-11-03 }} and Washington, D.C. (Capital Bikeshare).{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/10/24/d-c-bikeshare-workers-look-to-unionize-and-build-a-nationwide-bikeshare-powerhouse/ |title=D.C. Bikeshare workers look to unionize — and build a nationwide Bikeshare powerhouse - the Washington Post |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2014-11-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103140827/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/10/24/d-c-bikeshare-workers-look-to-unionize-and-build-a-nationwide-bikeshare-powerhouse/ |archive-date=2014-11-03 }}

In March 2019, Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed a 9-year contract to grant Lyft (owner of Motivate) exclusive rights to operate the city-owned system and receive a portion of the subsequent advertisement revenue. The deal required Lyft to invest {{US$|50 million}} to add 175 stations and 10,500 bikes to the system, expand to all 50 city wards by 2021, and add electric pedal bikes which could lock to both Divvy stations and conventional bike racks. Lyft would additionally be required to make annual payments to the city starting at {{US$|6 million}} and increasing by 4 percent each year; the city would share in at least {{US$|1.5 million}} in advertisement revenue each year.{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Madeline |title=Divvy to get $50 million upgrade from Lyft investment in exchange for ride revenue under contract proposal |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-divvy-expansion-deal-20190312-story.html |access-date=9 April 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=12 March 2019}}

The proposal passed a Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee vote in the City Council on April 8{{cite news |last1=Wisniewski |first1=Mary |title=More Divvy bikes — but none from Uber. Lyft moves closer to expansion deal that freezes out rivals. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-biz-divvy-lyft-deal-city-council-20190408-story.html |access-date=9 April 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=8 April 2019}} and was approved by the full City Council on April 10.{{cite news |last1=Spielman |first1=Fran |title=City Council makes Lyft exclusive operator of Divvy bike-sharing for nine years |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/city-council-lyft-divvy-bike-share-uber-jump/ |access-date=11 April 2019 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=10 April 2019}}

Since COVID, the Divvy network has continued to grow. As of May 2025, Divvy has over 1,000 stations, mostly within Chicago city limits, with numerous stations in Evanston as well. Divvy covers a total of 234 square miles, the largest service area of any bicycle sharing system in North America. Recent additions have allowed Divvy to meet the City of Chicago's stated goal of achieving four stations per square mile, thus allowing every Chicagoan to be within a short distance of a Divvy station.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Chicago Sees Record 11+ Million Shared Bike and Scooter Trips In 2024 |url=https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/news/2025/january/chicago-sees-record-10--million-shared-bike-and-scooter-trips-in.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 19, 2025 |website=Chicago.gov}}

Divvy's success has driven bike and scooter trips in Chicago to new highs, with more than 11 million trips recorded across all bikes and scooters in 2024 (including roughly 7 million from Divvy). Much of this can be attributed to the system's rapid geographic expansion, as well as targeted investments in stations near key transit connection points - such as the Peterson / Ridge Metra Station and the CTA's Damen Green Line Station and Orange Line Midway Stations. In tandem with Divvy's growing footprint, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has also worked to install bikeways to promote usage, with more than 50 miles of bike route being added in 2023 alone.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=CDOT: Chicago set a record in 2024 with 10M+ bike- and scooter-share rides. Actually, make that 11M+! - Streetsblog Chicago |url=https://chi.streetsblog.org/2025/01/09/cdot-chicago-set-a-record-in-2024-with-10m-bike-and-scooter-share-rides-actually-make-that-11m |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=chi.streetsblog.org |language=en}}

The name Divvy is a playful reference to sharing ("divvy it up"). Divvy's light-blue color palette and four stars evoke the Chicago flag. The double Vs in the Divvy logo refer to the shared-lane markers painted on bike lanes throughout the city, and are a nod to how the city prioritizes bike safety, paving the way for new riders.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

The naming, logo, and brand strategy for the system was developed through a partnership between the global design firm IDEO and the Chicago brand strategy studio Firebelly Design. IDEO led the project's research, conceptual brand development, and naming phases; Firebelly team led the identity design, communication system and brand guideline phases.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

The first 4,000 Founding Members received limited edition black keys; regular members received blue keys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike/news/2013/may/divvy_website_openformembershipregistration.html|title = Divvy Website Open for Membership Registration}}

{{further|topic=the bikes and payment kiosks|PBSC Urban Solutions#Equipment}}File:Divvy bikes in Chicago.jpg

Divvy bicycles are utility bicycles with a unisex step-through frame that provides a lower center of gravity and ease of access to a wide range of heights. All bikes are painted "Chicago blue", with the exception of one "unicorn bike": a bright red bike, dubbed #Divvyred.{{cite news|last=Byrne |first=John |title=Chicago's 'unicorn': new red Divvy bicycle |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/08/01/chicagos-unicorn-new-red-divvy-bicycle/ |access-date=25 September 2013 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=1 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928130726/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-08-01/news/chi-chicagos-unicorn-new-red-divvy-bicycle-20130801_1_divvy-station-bike-sharing-network-transportation-commissioner-gabe-klein |archive-date=28 September 2013 }}

The one-piece aluminum frame and handlebars conceal cables to protect them from vandalism and inclement weather. The heavy-duty tires are designed to be puncture-resistant and filled with nitrogen to maintain proper inflation pressure longer.{{cite news|last=Fisher |first=Jennifer |title=Divvy Bike Sharing May Come to Evanston |url=http://evanston.patch.com/groups/5-things/p/divvy-bike-sharing-may-come-to-evanston |access-date=25 September 2013 |newspaper=Evanston Patch |date=13 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927101122/http://evanston.patch.com/groups/5-things/p/divvy-bike-sharing-may-come-to-evanston |archive-date=27 September 2013 }} Front and rear flashing LED lights are integrated into the frame, which weighs approximately {{cvt|40|lb|kg|0}}. Divvy bikes have three speeds, a bell, and a front rack.

The bikes are manufactured in the Saguenay, Quebec region by Cycles Devinci. PBSC Urban Solutions supplies bicycles, docking stations, and payment kiosks for the system.

Through the end of October 2014, the Chicago Blackhawks partnered with Divvy to release five black and red Blackhawks-branded bikes.{{cite web|url=http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id%3D100409 |title=Divvy #BlackhawksBike Contest - Chicago Blackhawks - Fan Zone |access-date=2014-09-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006170815/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=100409 |archive-date=2014-10-06 }}

• Cycling in Chicago
• List of bicycle-sharing systems

{{Reflist}}

• [http://divvybikes.com/ Divvy | Your bike sharing system in Chicago]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130927191639/http://firebellydesign.com/work/divvy/name-brand-strategy Firebelly Design Case Study]
• [http://www.ideo.com/work/brand-development IDEO Case Study]

{{Bicycle sharing systems}}

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Category:Community bicycle programs

Category:Cycling in Chicago

Category:2013 introductions

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Category:2013 establishments in Illinois

Category:Bicycle sharing in the United States