McDonald's Cycle Center Bike Rental Prices (2013) and What Rentals Cost in Chicago Now
The 2013 rental price list of the Millennium Park bike station, line by line, beside what Divvy and Lakefront shops charge for a Chicago bike today.
In 2013 the Millennium Park bike station rented a comfort bike for $39 a day and a road bike for $69.1 The station closed in 2022.2 Today a Divvy day pass costs $19.90, and a Lakefront shop rents a comfort hybrid for $39.99 a day.3,4
- At a glance
- Comfort bike, full day (2013)
- $39 at the station1
- Road bike, full day (2013)
- $69 at the station1
- Station closed
- September 30, 20225
- Divvy day pass today
- $19.90 per day3
- Comfort hybrid, full day today
- $39.99 online at Bobby's Bike Hike4
Prices from Divvy, Bobby's Bike Hike, checked 2026-10-19.
On this page
The rental counter at the Millennium Park bike station posted a full price list in 2013.1 Bikes were new, and the price covered helmet, lock and map.1 This page keeps that list as a record, then sets it against what a bike costs in Chicago now. For the building’s full story, see the station hub.
The 2013 rental list
In 2013 the station rented bikes by the hour, half day, day, week or month.1 Its page said every bike was new and from a top manufacturer.1 Prices in 2013, in dollars:
| Bike | Hourly | 4 hours | Full day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruiser with gears, 2013 | $10 | $30 | $351 |
| Comfort bike, 2013 | $12.50 | $35 | $391 |
| Mountain bike, 2013 | $12.50 | $35 | $391 |
| Fitness bike, 2013 | $15 | $40 | $451 |
| Road bike, 2013 | none | $59 | $691 |
| High-end road bike, 2013 | none | none | $991 |
| Electric bike, 2013 | $20 | $49 | $591 |
| Tandem, 2013 | $20 | $59 | $691 |
The same list covered gear for families and skaters. In 2013 inline skates cost $10 an hour, $30 for four hours and $35 for the day. A kids’ bike was $8, $20 and $25. A child seat cost $5 for four hours and $10 for the day, a kids’ tagalong $10 and $15, and a kids’ wagon $20 and $25. A hand cycle matched the skates at $10, $30 and $35.1
Helmets, locks and trail maps were included in 2013.1 The station held a deposit on a valid credit card or driver’s license. Renters had to be 18, or a parent or guardian rented for them.1
What happened to the counter
The station opened on July 19, 2004.2 Bike and Roll Chicago, a tour company, operated it for most of its existence.6 Shift Transit took over in late May 2021.5 The station closed permanently on September 30, 2022.5 It now houses police bike patrol, so no one rents a bike there.2
Rental prices today
Bobby’s Bike Hike runs a shop at 540 N Lake Shore Dr and rents from there.4 It gives a free lock, helmet and map with every rental, and online rates carry a 10% discount.4 Online rates seen October 19, 2026:
| Bike (2026) | Hourly (2-hour minimum) | 4 hours | Full day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort hybrid | $14.99 | $34.99 | $39.994 |
| Road bike | $24.99 | $59.99 | $69.994 |
| Tandem | $24.99 | $59.99 | $69.994 |
| Electric bike, 16 and older | $29.99 | $69.99 | not offered4 |
| Kids’ bike, 20-inch | $9.99 | $24.99 | $29.994 |
Set beside 2013, the comfort bike and road bike day rates have barely moved: $39 became $39.99, and $69 became $69.99.1,4 The electric bike is the change. In 2013 a full day cost $59. Now it is sold by the hour and for four hours only, at a higher rate.1,4
Divvy: the other kind of rental
Divvy carries most short rides now. Prices seen October 19, 2026:3
| Divvy option | Price |
|---|---|
| Single ride | $1 unlock plus $0.20 a minute3 |
| Day pass | $19.90 a day3 |
| Annual membership | $143.90 a year, $99 for new members in a limited offer3 |
A day pass covers unlimited classic bike rides of up to three hours within 24 hours; a ride past three hours costs $0.20 a minute.3 An annual member gets 45 free minutes on classic bikes.3 E-bikes are extra: a $1 unlock and $0.44 a minute on a single ride, or $0.20 a minute for members.3 Divvy is the right tool for point-to-point trips. A shop is the right tool for a half day on the lake.
Which one to choose
Divvy fits short hops between the Loop, the museums and the beaches: a day pass is $19.90 and covers classic bike rides of up to three hours each.3 A shop fits a day on the lake, with a lock, helmet and map included, plus kids’ bikes and child gear.4 See Divvy pricing, bike rental downtown and the full rental cost guide for current numbers by route and season.
Read next
McDonald's Cycle Center History: Chicago's Millennium Park Bike Station
How Chicago built the Millennium Park bike station in 2004, named it for McDonald's in 2006, handed it to Shift Transit in 2021 and closed it in 2022.
rentalsDivvy 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.
rentalsBike Rental in Downtown Chicago: Shops, Divvy, Prices and Where to Pick Up
Where to rent a bike downtown: three shops, Divvy stations and day passes, with current prices, addresses and what is included.
Questions people ask
How much did it cost to rent a bike at the Millennium Park bike station?
In 2013 the station's price list ran from $10 an hour for a cruiser with gears to $99 for a full day on a high-end road bike. A comfort bike was $12.50 an hour, $35 for four hours and $39 for the day.1
Can you still rent a bike at McDonald's Cycle Center?
No. The station closed permanently on September 30, 2022, and the building now serves the Chicago Police Department's bike patrol. Shops on the Lakefront Trail and Divvy docks now supply rental bikes.2,5
How much does a Divvy bike cost per day?
A Divvy day pass costs $19.90 and covers unlimited classic bike rides of up to three hours within 24 hours, then $0.20 a minute past three hours. A single ride costs a $1 unlock plus $0.20 a minute.3
Sources
- Rentals (archived page)ARCHIVE 2004–14
chicagobikestation.com (2004–2014 archive) · web.archive.org · checked 2026-10-19 - McDonald's Cycle CenterREFERENCE
Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · checked 2026-10-19 - Plans & PricingOPERATOR
Divvy · divvybikes.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Bike Rentals ChicagoOPERATOR
Bobby's Bike Hike · bobbysbikehike.com · checked 2026-10-19 - Confirmed: Millennium Park bike station will now only serve cops instead of commutersPRESS
Streetsblog Chicago · chi.streetsblog.org · checked 2026-10-19 - Millennium Park bike station reopens under new name and managementPRESS
Streetsblog Chicago · chi.streetsblog.org · checked 2026-10-19
Photo credits (1)
- Torsodog / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Laws are quoted from Illinois statute and the Chicago Municipal Code; prices from each operator on the date shown. Editorial policy · Corrections.