Since its introduction in 2013, the Divvy bike-sharing service has proved to be a valuable addition to the city's array of transportation options. The citywide network now boasts more than 31,000 members, 4,760 bikes and 476 stations, making it the largest service of its kind in North America. Of course, continued growth and upkeep comes at a cost, which is why on February 1, Divvy will raise the price of an annual membership from $75 to $99.
If the increase in cost puts an annual Divvy membership outside of your price range, don't worry—you have some new options. Divvy announced that it will begin offering an annual membership that is billed at a rate of $9.95 per month, with a minimum one-year commitment. The bike-sharing service will also continue to offer its Divvy for Everyone program, which offers $5 memberships to low-income Chicago residents.
All things considered, a $24 price increase probably won't put much of a dent in Divvy's impressive ridership numbers (more than 3 million trips and counting), while the monthly payment option may attract new riders who want to pay for bike-sharing the same way they handle their Netflix accounts. And perhaps Divvy can use that extra cash to protect some noggins by installing helmet rental stations.