Divvy’s bike share system provides hundreds of stations and thousands of bikes to help people get around the city of Chicago.
The service offers users a convenient way to travel around the city, including the health benefits of exercise and cost-saving relative to other transportation methods.
This article breaks down Divvy bike cost, the membership options available, and the discounts to help you save money.
Let’s take a look:
Table Of Contents
Divvy Bike Cost
How much do Divvy bike rentals cost?
Divvy bike rentals range from $3.30 for a single 30-minute ride to $108 billed annually for unlimited 45-minute bike rides.
Divvy then charges a $0.15 per minute fee if you keep the bike out longer than the allotted time.
Including the $0.15 per-minute fee, an hour-long single Divvy ride costs $7.50.
Divvy also offers ebikes, which come with pedal-assist motors to make riding the bike easier and faster.
Ebikes are priced at $3.30 for a single ride plus $0.20 each minute you have the bike out.
How does Divvy’s cost compare with other transportation alternatives?
In terms of public transportation, Divvy is cheaper than a Chicago Transport Authority (CTA) pass, which grants access to buses and trains throughout the city.
A 30-day CTA pass costs $35, whereas the monthly equivalent of a Divvy yearly membership is $9 per month.
Divvy is $26 cheaper per month than CTA.
Chicago magazine also cites that Divvy is cheaper than a typical bike or bike tune-up, and, on average, Divvy is usually a faster option to reach your destination than CTA.
Divvy is also cheaper than buying gas for your car, car insurance, and/or tune-ups.
However, the fee for a lost or stolen bike is $1200, which is charged to the card on file.
All riders should be aware of this and take the necessary precautions to keep the bike (and yourself) safe.
What are Divvy Bike zone fees?
Divvy Ebikes are broken up into two geographical zones based on the density of Divvy stations or e-stations available in the area.
The east zone is Zone 1.
This zone has a higher density of stations available.
As such, Divvy charges $0.20 per minute from the start of your ebike ride (the normal rate).
However, you will be charged an out-of-station parking fee if you end your ride outside Zone 1.
The west zone is Zone 2.
This zone has a lower density of stations available.
To account for this, Divvy includes 30 or 45 minutes for free before the $0.20 per-minute pricing begins.
The 30 or 45 minutes depends on your membership level.
In addition, the out-of-station parking fee is waived if you end your ride outside Zone 2.
Understanding these fees can help you better plan your rides.
If you are in Zone 2 and pick up a bike, remember you have 30 or 45 minutes to ride at no additional cost, so it could be cost-effective to try to reach your destination within that time.
If you want to go from Zone 1 to Zone 2, it might be more cost-effective to drop your bike off before reaching Zone 2.
Then pick up a new one at a station within Zone 2.
This helps you avoid the out-of-station fee, and you can take advantage of the first 30 or 45 minutes without per-minute pricing.
Divvy Bike Memberships
Single Ride
Single Divvy rides cost $3.30 for a 30-minute ride.
This equates to $0.11 per minute.
This option is often used for one-way trips to social gatherings, the grocery store, appointments, or other errands.
If your ride lasts longer than 30 minutes, Divvy charges $0.15 per minute until you complete the journey.
Day Pass
The Divvy Bike day pass costs $15 per day and gives users unlimited three-hour rides for 24 hours after unlocking the bike.
This option is tailored towards tourists visiting the city or locals who want to spend the day exploring.
The day pass allows users to get a bike from one location and drop it off at their next location without needing to lug the bike around or worry about locking it up somewhere safe.
Then, when they’re ready to leave, they can just head to a new station and pick up a new bike.
If you would like to do a ride that’s longer than three hours, it costs $0.15 per minute above that threshold.
Annual Pass
The annual Divvy bike pass costs $108 billed annually, which equates to $9 per month.
This option offers unlimited 45-minute classic bike rides and 25% off Divvy’s ebikes.
You can earn points through their reward system, and Divvy offers three free guest passes.
Divvy also offers a bundle annual pass option, including access to bikes across the U.S., 15% off Lyft, free food delivery with Grubhub+, three scooter rides per month, free upgrades with Lyft Rentals, and other rideshare benefits.
This pass is excellent for heavy Divvy bike users, such as people who want to commute to work on a Divvy bike and plan to use it regularly throughout the year.
Divvy Bike Membership Discounts and Special Offers
Divvy Week
Divvy Week happens every Earth Day (April).
Divvy Week 2023 will run from April 22 to April 30 and includes membership discounts and promotions for new and existing members.
New riders can get a $5 24-hour Pass available the whole week (the regular price is $9.95).
New annual members will receive a buy-one-get-one-free Chipotle card, and existing members can show their membership key for other food and beverage offers.
Student and Corporate Discounts
Divvy also offers discounts for students or corporations who would like to offer the discount to their employees.
Students who go to any of the following universities can sign up for Divvy for $83 per year (a savings of $25 per year):
- Adler University
- City Colleges of Chicago
- Columbia College Chicago
- DePaul University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- John Marshall Law School
- Kendall College
- Loyola University Chicago
- Northeastern Illinois University
- Northwestern University
- North Park University
- Roosevelt University
- Rush University Medical Center
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- The University of Chicago
- The University of Illinois at Chicago
This membership provides students with unlimited 45-minute classic bike rides (plus $0.15 per minute for over 45-minute rides).
Divvy for Business lets organizations subsidize the cost of Divvy for their employees.
They provide sign-up instructions and collateral to share with employees, they help manage who has signed up, and businesses have the option of a full subsidy or partial subsidy.
For the full subsidy, businesses pay $85 per sign-up (22% discount off retail) and employees pay $0.
For the partial subsidy, businesses pay $45 per sign up and employees pay $45 each, which equates to a 17% discount off the retail price.
Related Promotions: Zipcar for students and Grubhub student discount
Divvy for Everyone (D4E)
Divvy for Everyone offers a one-time $5 annual membership to qualifying residents.
People who do not have a debit card, credit card, or prepaid card (required for a standard Divvy membership) can pay with cash.
Wrapping Up
Divvy can be a health-conscious and cost-effective choice for locals looking for a better alternative to get around the city.
It is also a cheap and fun option for visitors to explore the city without renting a car or sitting on buses and trains.
The abundance of Divvy stations makes the service accessible to a majority of the residents in the Chicagoland area.
Cost-saving benefits, environmental benefits, and health benefits make Divvy an intriguing choice for many city-goers.
