![]() Divvy has continued to break ridership records and is the largest bikeshare system by service area in the country. Lyft, the operator of Divvy, has taken several steps to enhance system security and prevent theft, and we continue to communicate with CPD about potential stolen bikes. "Security of the Divvy fleet is a top priority for CDOT. We started asking Chicago's Department of Transportation, who contracts with Divvy, weeks ago. "I never hear back from anybody," Martin said. But as they get harder and harder to find, she says they're becoming less dependable by the day. Martin depends on Divvy bikes to get around. "Sometimes I walk to like three different stations, and by the time I walk, it's been a half hour - it's like, okay, I just wasted all this time." "It's just hard to find any," Martin said. This is a list from Chicago Police of Divvy bike theft reports from Aug. The data show the thefts are happening across the city. This is compared to 64 last year, and 29 in pre-pandemic 2019. 21 of this year, 81 bikes have been stolen on record. Meanwhile, through public records requests, Molina learned that through Sept. But such options are not available in the same way for pedal bikes, which have minimal internal electronics, Lyft said. Lyft said its e-bikes bikes are harder to steal because of anti-theft measures built into them. Lyft added that the thefts track with greater crime trends in Chicago, as crime peaks in the summer. DIVVY LOG IN SOFTWARETo ensure we keep theft levels low, and based on our experience as the largest bikeshare provider in the country, our team constantly adapts to patterns of misuse by hardening our bikes, stations, and software against theft."ĭivvy parent Lyft went on to explain a spike in thefts around downtown Chicago has resulted in a decrease in the size of the total pedal bike fleet. The credit brought Lyft’s annual payment to the city down to about $6.1 million.With specific regard to the bike that ended up in Mexico City, the Divvy spokesperson said in a statement: "While we can't blame this bike for heading south as Chicago's winter sets in, the reality is that sometimes Divvy bikes are stolen and that impacts our riders in Chicago. That was largely because the city gave a $2.25 million credit to Lyft for fare promotions and to get a new scooter program up and running. “As we deliver citywide service, we are prioritizing affordable access for members and we have also seen our reduced fare membership program, Divvy for Everyone, quadruple in size,” Lyft spokesman Jordan Levine said.ĬDOT also highlighted member rates, and said Divvy’s unchanged income-qualifying program is particularly important to the city, which views the bike-share program as a form of public transit.Īmid the Divvy price changes and deployment challenges, CDOT brought in less money from the bike-share program this year than at any point since Lyft took over operation in 2019. The company highlighted member pricing, saying the majority of rides are taken by members, who are also likely to ride more often. Lyft said it was open to exploring the need and demand for more nonelectric, pedal bikes, and CDOT said it was open to working with the company to add more of the classic bikes. Wennink speculated the price changes could shift Divvy use toward tourists, who are likely to only ride a handful of times during a visit and so might be less sensitive to higher prices than someone relying on a shared bike for a daily commute. Robert Terrazzano tries to use the app to check out a Divvy bike at a long dock where only two remained outside Union Station in the West Loop on Aug. “I think it’s making riding regularly less attractive for many people.” “That’s a very changed dynamic,” she said. Wennink, who usually rides a personal bike, is not a Divvy member. She recalled attempting to ride a Divvy from the Field Museum to Lakeview, and abandoning the idea when she learned the trip would cost $18. With fewer pedal bikes, riders might have no option other than to pay sometimes hefty charges for e-bikes, she said. “In order for our city to be world class, we’ve got to make sure that all of our city’s residents have affordable and safe options,” he said.Īudrey Wennink, director of transportation at the Metropolitan Planning Council, said she was concerned about the price increases and the seemingly fewer nonelectric bikes on the street. Ensuring access to reliable and affordable transportation, whether buses, scooters or bikes, is important, he said. Mike Rodriguez, 22nd, who signed onto the resolution, said he was pleased new Divvy stations had been added to his South Side ward, but he was concerned about prices. The price changes sparked a resolution from a handful of aldermen calling for more information about Divvy prices and ridership, and saying more study of e-bike prices could encourage more Divvy use.Īld. ![]()
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