More Top Picks Best Label Makers For Classrooms
player ready...Divvy rides will be free this weekend just in time for Chicagoans and tourists heading to Pitchfork Music Festival, street festivals, the lakefront, Cubs games and concerts at Northerly Island.
The free rides on Saturday and Sunday will allow cyclists to get the $9.95 cost of a 24-hour pass waived, according to a news release issued by the city. The Chicago Department of Transportation owns Divvy, a bike-share company operated by Motivate.
To ride the city’s blue bikes for free, go to divvybikes.com/delightways and enter an email address to get the free code. Go to any Divvy station kiosk, select 24-hour pass, swipe a debit or credit card and enter the free code. The 24-hour pass is good for unlimited 30 minute rides. Late fees kick in if trips are longer.
The last time Divvy offered free rides was Earth Day in April when nearly 1,000 people took advantage of the free ride promotion , said Susan Hofer, spokeswoman for the city’s transportation department. Last September, free rides on three Saturdays resulted in more than 31,000 free rides, city officials said. Private companies covered the costs of the free Divvy days.
This weekend, there will be free Divvy valet service at Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park, the Chinatown Summer Fair, Navy Pier, North Avenue beach and the Theater on the Lake location at Fullerton Parkway and Lake Shore Drive.
After rolling out its latest expansion, there are more than 580 Divvy stations and 5,800 bikes, according to the city. Since launching in 2013, the city said more than 8 million trips have been taken on the blue bikes. Currently, Divvy counts more than 35,000 annual members. Annual memberships cost $99 upfront or $9.95 a month. Chicagoans who qualify based on income can pay $5 for a subsidized annual membership through the Divvy for Everyone program. In its first year, more than 1,400 people enrolled in the program, the news release said.
Twitter: @lvivanco