The cost of an annual Divvy membership will plunge lower than it has in years for new users of Chicago\u2019s bike share program, the city announced Thursday.<\/p>\n
The cost of an annual membership to the Lyft-operated program will drop from $143.90 to $99 for new or returning members starting next week, the Chicago Department of Transportation said in a news release Thursday.<\/p>\n
Existing members will still pay $143.90 for their memberships this year, said CDOT spokesperson Erica Schroeder. Former members whose memberships have been expired for at least 30 days will be able to take advantage of the new price.<\/p>\n
Memberships allow riders unlimited \u201cclassic\u201d bike rides up to 45 minutes long. Members must still pay to use Divvy e-bikes, albeit at discounted rates.<\/p>\n
The discount comes after years of steadily creeping membership costs. When the Divvy program first launched<\/a> in Chicago in 2013, a membership cost $75. But the price of a membership reached $119 in 2022 and $130.90 by 2023. The $99 price announced this week brings the cost back down to what a Divvy membership ran members nearly a decade ago<\/a> in 2016.<\/p>\n At the same time, Divvy will take modest price increases on some rides \u201cto account for inflation.\u201d The cost of scooter trips, e-bike trips and traditional bike trips longer than 45 minutes will all increase by one or two cents per minute for members.<\/p>\n In addition to the decrease in membership price, Divvy will remove fees to unlock its bikes for trips that begin in equity priority areas, which span much of the city\u2019s South, West and Northwest sides.<\/a><\/p>\n Member bike rides that take 30 to 45 minutes will be capped at the price of a 30-minute ride, and members will be able to choose to operate e-bikes as traditional bikes, at traditional bike pricing \u2014 in what Divvy is terming a \u201clow assist mode\u201d \u2014 when traditional pedal bikes aren\u2019t available.<\/p>\n