Free Divvy rides offered in September

Chronicle Media

Cook 090915 Divvy bike share system Photo 1Divvy, Chicago’s popular bike share system, is teaming up with T-Mobile to offer free 24-hour passes at all 475 Divvy stations across Chicago Sept. 12 and 19.

The Divvy program, which is operated by Motivate (http://www.motivateco.com) on behalf of the Chicago Department of Transportation, consists of a fleet of more than 4,700 specially designed, heavy-duty, highly durable bikes that are locked into a network of docking stations located throughout the city.

Taking advantage of the promotion is easy. On Sept. 12 and 19, riders can simply walk up to any Divvy station, select “Get a Bike” and follow the prompts on the screen. The 24-Hour Pass, regularly $9.95, will be available at no charge, thanks to T-Mobile, when purchased on any of these days. A credit or debit card is required as usage fees still will apply to all trips over 30 minutes. Riders can choose to take multiple rides during the 24-hour period simply by going to the kiosk and selecting “Request a New Ride Code.”

For video instructions on how to access the free rides, Chicagoans and visitors can go to www.DivvyBikes.com/video. For more details about the promotional offer, you can also visit www.DivvyBikes.com/freeride.

To accommodate the expected increase in ridership, Divvy will be boosting its Valet Service on those days, with ambassadors available at popular “hotspot” stations. Valet Service is designed to guarantee you a space to dock your bike, even at the busiest stations, and to help riders learn about the bike share system.

Valet Service will be at the following stations between 12-6pm on each Saturday:

  • Millennium Park
  • Theater on the Lake
  • Lake Shore Drive & Monroe St.
  • Streeter Drive & Illinois St.
  • Lake Shore Drive & North Ave.
  • Michigan Ave. & Oak St.
  • Montrose Harbor
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Indiana Ave. & Roosevelt Road
  • Adler Planetarium
  • Clark St. & Armitage Ave.
  • Lake Shore Drive & Ohio St.
  • Buckingham Fountain

Station locations and real-time bike and dock availability can be viewed at www.DivvyBikes.com/stations or by downloading the free “CycleFinder” app for iPhone or Android devices.

Additionally, Divvy is offering an “End of Summer” promotion for annual memberships, in which new members who sign up in September will receive a 13th month free for the regular price of $75. Chicagoans can sign up within minutes at DivvyBikes.com/signup/pedal and will be mailed a key fob that can unlock a bike at any station across the city. The key entitles members to take as many 30-minute trips throughout the year as they want. Trips over 30 minutes incur incremental usage fees, which can be found on the Divvy website.

 

— Free Divvy rides offered in September —