How Divvy Bikes Work in Chicago: Unlock, Ride, Park
How Chicago's Divvy bikeshare works: unlock with the app, ride, dock at any station, and what classic bikes, ebikes and scooters cost.
Divvy is Chicago's city-owned bike and scooter share, run under contract by Lyft1. Scan the code to unlock a bike, ride, then dock it at any open Divvy station until the light turns green7,2. A single ride costs $1 to unlock plus $0.20 a minute3.
- At a glance
- Run by
- City-owned, operated by Lyft1
- Single ride
- $1 unlock + $0.20 a minute3
- Day pass
- $19.90 for unlimited 3-hour classic rides in 24 hours3
- Annual
- $143.90 a year; $99 for new members3
- Stations
- 1,136 across Chicago and Evanston, November 20254
- Ebike top speed
- 20 mph1
Prices from Divvy (Lyft), checked 2026-10-19.
On this page
Divvy turns the city grid into a rental shop with no counter. The rules are short. The details that catch people are the docks and the clock.
The system
Divvy is Chicago’s city-owned bike and scooter sharing system1. The city contracts Lyft to operate it1. It launched on June 28, 2013, with 750 bikes at 75 stations4. By November 2025 it counted 1,136 stations across Chicago and Evanston4. Its 234 square miles are the largest service area of any bikeshare in North America4. As of May 2023 it is available in all 50 wards1.
The city reported more than 17,000 bikes, 1,500 e-scooters and 950 docking stations as of June 20241. Across all bikes and scooters, more than 11 million trips were recorded in 2024, roughly 7 million of them on Divvy4.
Unlock, ride, park
- Find a station. Pick one near you and one near your destination with empty docks7. The app shows real-time bike and dock availability5.
- Unlock. Scan the code. The bike unlocks and you are ready to ride7.
- Park. Slide the bike into an open dock. Wait for the lock-in light to turn green2.
A rider without a smartphone can still take a classic bike. Kiosks at most stations sell passes for classic bikes6. Divvy encourages every rider to wear a helmet2.
Classic bike, ebike or scooter
Divvy runs three kinds of vehicle. They differ in where a trip may end.
| Classic bike | Ebike | Scooter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | Traditional 3-speed pedal bike1 | Electric motor assist when you pedal1 | Standing scooter1 |
| Top speed | Your legs | 20 mph1 | 15 mph1 |
| Trip starts and ends | Classic docking stations only1 | Any Divvy station, or legal bike parking for an extra fee1 | Same as an ebike, in a limited service area1 |
Ebike prices and rules have their own page: Divvy ebikes.
What it costs
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Single ride | $1 to unlock, then $0.20 a minute3 |
| Day pass | $19.90 for unlimited 3-hour classic rides in 24 hours3 |
| Annual membership | $143.90 a year; $99 a year limited-time offer for new members3 |
Ebikes and scooters cost more per minute. A single ride on either is $1 to unlock plus $0.44 a minute3. The full breakdown, including who saves money, is in Divvy pricing. Qualifying residents can join for $5 a year through Divvy for Everyone3.
Where you can leave it
A classic bike goes back to a docking station. Any station will do, no matter where you picked it up7. Ebikes and scooters have more room: park them at over 600 public racks or posts for free2. Leaving one at any other legal public location adds $3.00 for non-members and $2.00 for members2.
Is Divvy the right tool?
Divvy suits one-way trips: to the train, to dinner, along the lakefront. For a long afternoon with one bike, compare it with a rental shop first: Divvy vs a bike rental shop. The full set of Rentals & Divvy guides covers the rest.
Read next
Divvy Pricing in Chicago: Day Pass, Single Ride, Membership
What Divvy costs in Chicago: single rides, the day pass, annual membership, ebike and scooter rates, and when each plan beats the others.
rentalsDivvy Ebikes in Chicago: Price, Parking and How They Work
What a Divvy ebike costs in Chicago by plan, how the pedal assist works, where you can park, and the rules for locking one up.
rentalsDivvy vs a Bike Rental Shop in Chicago: Which Costs Less
Divvy or a rental shop in Chicago? Compare costs for a two-hour ride, a full day and an ebike, plus what each includes and where you return the bike.
Questions people ask
How do Divvy bikes work in Chicago?
Scan the code on a bike to unlock it7. Ride, then park at any open dock. The light turns green when the bike is locked in2. The app map shows nearby stations with real-time bike and dock availability5.
How much does it cost to use a Divvy bike in Chicago?
A single ride is $1 to unlock plus $0.20 a minute on a classic bike3. A day pass is $19.90 and covers unlimited 3-hour classic rides in a 24-hour period3. An annual membership is $143.90 a year3.
Can you use Divvy bikes without the app?
Yes, for single rides on classic bikes. Riders without a smartphone can buy a pass for classic bikes at a Divvy kiosk, found at most stations6.
Sources
- DivvyGOV
City of Chicago, Department of Transportation · chicago.gov · checked 2026-10-19 - How it worksOPERATOR
Divvy (Lyft) · divvybikes.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Plans & PricingOPERATOR
Divvy (Lyft) · divvybikes.com · checked 2026-10-19 - DivvyREFERENCE
Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · checked 2026-10-19 - Two ways to rideOPERATOR
Divvy (Lyft) · divvybikes.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Single RideOPERATOR
Divvy (Lyft) · divvybikes.com · checked 2026-10-19 - How to use Divvy bikeshareOPERATOR
Divvy (Lyft) · divvybikes.com · checked 2026-10-19
Photo credits (1)
- Daniel X. O'Neil / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · source
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Laws are quoted from Illinois statute and the Chicago Municipal Code; prices from each operator on the date shown. Editorial policy · Corrections.