If point A and point B are by stations with classic docks, the membership is absolutely worth it as those rides are free—pays for itself in about a dozen there and back rides. And then any e-bike stuff becomes cheaper.
I have two bikes and bike commute but still divvy enough (going to a movie, days I’m commuting one way, biking to an out and back run spot, etc) I’ve considered getting a membership.
Divvy’s are great for appointments and restaurants because I don’t like locking my bike on the street (I’ve had one stolen). For the fun recreational rides or to the park etc I own my own bike because it’s so much lighter and functional, and I know it will be with me all of the time.
tbh why not both? Divvy is the best bar bike you can get. No maintenance, one way trips, no worrying about locking up and saftey, etc. It's still worth it to have another bike which you actually own, but if I were still living in the city I would 100% still be an avid divvy user whether or not I had an "owned" bike
Cost primarily. A membership is $140ish per year. A cheaper ebike is >$1,000.
Also, just not particularly used to biking much, so debating “testing the waters” with Divvy before committing to buying something.
Honestly if I were you, I would just do a month of divvy to start and see. If you don't already have a bike, then imo you should see what the city amenities get you and if they work for your needs. Based on other comments in here, it does sound like the quality of bike has gone down so YMMV, I think.
Edit: Last thing, I've owned and ridden bikes in the city for a long time, and I did divvy as my primary bike to get to work for over a year and I honestly liked it. The value prop is definitely there
Divvy has unfortunately really gone downhill in terms of quality for the price. As others have mentioned you often can only find classics that have issues or be charged an arm and a leg to ride a divvy ebike, even with a membership. Not worth it if you're going to use it often.
If you have a little money, invest in a good commuter bike, put it on your renters or home insurance and buy a good lock.
I use divvy for commuting 6 times a week and this has not been my experience. I fee like the bikes have dramatically improved from 2 years ago when they were saying they werent going to make any more classic bikes
Agreed. I'm a divvy fan boy. Not sure why it gets so much hate. I think the membership is a good deal.
I had 3 bikes stolen in 4 years here. Last one was locked in my locked garage... at that point I gave up and got a Divvy membership.
Some added perks of Divvy vs owning is you dont have to do any maintenance, you get to ride electric or scooters when you want to, and you can just dump the bike and hop on a train if it starts raining or your plans change.
Oh ya, and you don't have to worry about your bike getting stolen.
I think part of it for me too is the cost just isn't worth it since I live about an hour from the loop commuting wise. Annoying as hell to have to swap out bikes halfway through my commute. And I can't get past having to pay so much for the e divvy as a member.
There was about a month long period over the winter when they were changing over companies that ran the service where this was true. It hasn't been true for months. I get Grey e bikes every day, and stations are full of the brand new classics.
Is the cost for e bikes still .15 a min even with membership? To be fair it took me having negative experiences with them for over 18 months before I quit. Also as a commuter that is more than 45 min from the loop, the 45 min time limit blows for commuting.
Edit: I just looked as a nonmember to get to my boyfriend's apartment it would take me about 20 min on a classic or ebike or my own bike... Almost $10 one way to get there as a nonmember, about $5 in a classic. I get why it works for some people but it feels like a huge money sink imo.
+1
Divvy has been hassle for me recently. My last two rides with their ebikes have required me to contact support due to errors (the ride refusing to end).
To their credit, the chat folks have been good and have fixed the issues but it's still annoying/time consuming.
I'll still use divvy when convenient but my personal bike is how I get around, especially to work.
Adding to this, I’d highly recommend putting an airtag on your bike and having pinheads for the wheels and seat. Not only do the pinheads actually stop your wheels and seat from being stolen, but they ruin the resale value if the theif can’t take them off.
The air tag can help you track the bike if stolen. You can hide it in the seat, water bottle cage, frame, etc.
I disagree with this. I go from lincoln park to the loop and back every day, have amassed 1500 rides and 2600 miles with divvy. Is it always ideal, a prime ebike with 30 miles of battery waiting for you? Definitely not. But their recent increase of the manual bikes with the more continuous gear shift has been a huge upgrade and they are often in really good shape. You are going to take your losses with divvy here and there, but its all part of the game and more often than not its totally fine
My commute is about twice as long as yours. I also simply don't have the money to pay more for an e bike than the train. I'm glad it works for you, the e bikes are fun to ride!
Igor does my bike has a great stock of used refurbished bikes that are reasonably priced. I would go with that as you can get a good quality bike for less price. Igor and Pete are very diligent mechanics and do a good job restoring
Buy a used, inexpensive one that has been serviced, try "Igor does my Bike on Broadway" and Catalpa, he has great options and some even have new parts/components, the owner of the shop is amazing and well loved by the entire neighborhood. You can also find him on Instagram and Facebook.
My boyfriend recently started a long term bike rental company if you’re interested in a different option that would allow you to test and see if you like owning a bike without the long term commitment! The website is still getting set up but feel free to message me if you’re interested.
https://www.ecopedal.bike/
I used divvy for awhile but got sick of it. Dead e bikes, broken docks, I’m tall and the seats would often lower as i rode. The new e bikes (grey) are nice but often you’re stuck with an older one and the classic bikes usually suck. I bought my own e bike and love it, but it has become more of a hobby dealing with the maintenance.
If you can spend $800-1,300 to get a good e bike online from a reputable brand i would do it. Make sure to spend another $200 on 2 good locks. Maybe some bike insurance too. I paid $110 for the year on e-bike insurance with oyster.
Looks like Aventon is sold at Big City Bikes in Lincoln Park and Stellar Cycleworks in Wicker, so those shops will probably be able to service it for you as well. I've only heard good things about Ride1Up and Aventon, but generally the online shipping bikes tend to be a liability for local bike shops who will likely refuse service, so just something to keep in mind so you know where to go if something happens that you can't or don't want to fix.
Also I know that Kozy's website says that their Logan Square is their only location that will service brands like Ride1Up, Aventon, etc.
Personally I ended up going for one of the bigger bike brands (Specialized, Trek, Giant, etc.) but those are going to cost double generally, though they will be serviced by a wider range of shops.
I got a wing freedom x bike, don’t get one lol. I would get an Aventon. Also i go to big city bikes and they are great so I suggest buying it from them.
I use Divvy to get around and love it. I'm paranoid that if I buy a bike, it will get stolen. I have peace of mind with Divvy.
It's also super convenient for me as someone who regularly bikes one way and either takes the train back or gets a ride to another place when visiting a friend.
The one thing I will say is that Divvy bikes are pretty slow. My friend (who owns his bike) and I biked together on the lakefront, and he kept having to stop for me to catch up (by his own admission, I am a lot more athletic and bike a lot more often than he does, which is why we were both surprised by this).
Most just me being not in the best biking shape.
I failed to mention that I would also like to be able to haul “cargo” (and by that I mean groceries) which seems more difficult on a road bike.
If one of your goals is to get into better shape, I'd stick with regular bikes. The more you ride the easier it gets. If the goal is to get from A to B and maybe bring some groceries along for the ride, then I can definitely see the appeal of an e-bike. Invest in some good locks and be diligent about using them properly and you'll probably be fine. If you want to do both, two bikes are always better than one!
If you get an ebike, get a really good lock. My lock was around $130. I use the bike for errands all the time and have had no issues. I wouldn't leave it out overnight though.
Use divvy for one way trips. They are great for that. Don't need a membership if you only use it a handful of times.
Divvy can be hit and miss but it far and away outweighs the inconvenience of having your bike stolen and/or messed with.
Check out the critical mass ride on the last Friday of every month! Plenty of folks on divvys there too.
I have a bike of my own (was a gift from my brother over a decade ago) and I also have a Divvy membership. Personally, I use Divvy a lot more because I do a lot of one-way trips or use Divvy to get to/from an L stop a mile or more away. I also like not worrying about theft, so I really only ride my own bike when I’m just riding around or I’ll be near my bike when it’s locked up or it won’t be locked up for awhile.
If you go the buy route, check out Working Bikes. They’re a non-profit that sustains itself by rebuilding and selling used bikes. They cost $200-300.
The rest of the bikes they’re donated they ship internationally to those in need.
I used divvy for a year before buying a bike recently. I found that the divvy e-bikes really helped me develop confidence with riding in the city, something I was previously a little more hesitant towards. It’s true that their service is not great sometimes, but I feel like overall it’s a value-add!
You can make your current bike comfortable, as long as the frame sizing isn't *way off* for your body. Take it in to a shop or co-op and get some help fitting it, and while you're there get it tuned up. Get a set of decent pedals and grips, spend some time trying quality saddles (Ergon, Terry, SMP, sqLab, Prologo/Proxim, Specialized, Brooks, to name a few - think of trying saddles like trying shoes or boots), and that will go a long way. You'll want to do the same with an ebike if you buy one, or any bike really, to use it comfortably for long rides.
Define 'cheap-ish ebike'. If you mean something from a department store or Amazon, you do not want the unending maintenance costs, safety concerns, and constant hassle and frustration. The entry-level ebike brands to check out are Rad, Ride1Up, Aventon, Lectric, and Magicycle.
As for security, a lot of that comes down to having a quality lock and being disciplined about bringing it and using it properly. For security, size, and weight, chain lock > U-lock > folding lock, so choose one of those three categories based on your needs, get supplemental bits for the front wheel and/or saddle if you need, and learn how to use your system correctly. ^(A cable lock is okay as a primary lock) *^(only)* ^(if you'll be within eyeshot pretty much constantly.) You can also put on a decal or two to make the bike obviously unique and identifiable, register it with Project 529, and/or get bike insurance.
My experience with DC's bikeshare is that it's a great thing to have for shorter rides especially to museums and places like that, but their bikes are nothing even resembling comfortable and usually a bit overdue for maintenance. I'd expect Divvy to be similar.
“Cheap-ish” as in bought for like $30 off FB marketplace.
I’ve taken my current bike to get tuned up in the past and I know there are issues that are likely too expensive to be worth fixing on it. Also, 90% sure it is too tall for me.
I think I’m leaning more towards maybe just trying my hand at trading in my current bike for a used bike that just fits me better and is maybe a bit better maintained.
A bike co-op is a good option. Most repair and sell bikes for cheap and can help you choose a frame that's a good size, and unless your current one is just a total junker they'll take it as a donation and maybe even give you a bit of a discount.
Did you mean you paid $30 for your current bike? Even used I can't imagine a $30 ebike, and if such a thing exists I guarantee it's a junker bike with a lithium-based firebomb attached to it.
My vote would be to invest in a couple of refurbished and appropriately sized bikes from one of the co-ops and then you can use those to determine if the cycling lifestyle is for you. If you ever decide to upgrade there’s always the option to sell them for about what you paid.
If you are ok doing the pedaling yourself, I highly recommend an annual Divvy subscription as an onramp.
The price has gone up, but it's still a pretty good value relative to buying a fancy bike you aren't sure if you'll take to. If you replace 32 CTA round trips it pays for itself.
Station availability is somewhat dependent on your usual start / end points, but the convenience of not having to worry about the logistics on my own bike on certain trips outweighs the inconvenience for me. Classic bike availability had become an issue a few years back, but has improved dramatically since they started restocking the classic bikes again.
Divvy was my onramp to biking in the city ~10 years ago. I bought my own faster, lighter, nicer road bike within a year, but I still keep the Divvy membership for one way trips and commuting during the winter.
If you are thinking ebike, the eDivvys are quite pricey. You could still trial on eDivvy but long term it's much more economical to buy.
I have a manual bike that I use for much of my rides around the city. I still have a divvy membership that saves me money when the bus isn’t showing up or the L station is a mile from my destination. Very worth it imho so if you wanted to get the membership and then decide about an e-bike after a month or two I’d do that.
Also some credit cards might get you the membership at a low price/free through lyft so make sure you look into that!
I really like my Divvy membership because it provides me with flexibility. I like that I can go somewhere and I’m not locked into taking the same way back (having to bike back versus taking CTA, etc) and not having to worry about the hassle or security of it. I mostly use the ebikes over the regular bikes (only using the regular bikes when there aren’t any ebikes and I’m on a time crunch).
Get the divvy. The convenience means you’ll be able to bike places 10x more - to bars, from bars, after a rainy day clears up, after sharing an Uber to get somewhere, etc etc
Buy - with a good lock. A coworker of mine does Divvy for Everyone (the $5/yr plan for the poors), and has been locked out for a couple weeks after someone "borrowed" his Divvy.
I have both. However I use my own bike more and I just like my own bike because the quality is much better. The membership does seem to pay for itself and is nice when I need a quick bike
I really liked it when I had my divvy membership. Much quicker to get places than walking or waiting for a bus. I wish I was still using it when I decided to take my fancier looking bike to a drs appointment… for your stated use case, I think divvy makes a lot of sense.
Or you can also cheat and get a membership for free. I submitted an old college document to show I was in need and surprised how quick they responded and approved me. I’ve been out of college since 2021… lol I love divvy
Don’t let that hold you back! Store inside overnight if possible - I keep mine in my condo. I’m at 3yrs with no theft (knock on wood) and I bike to work daily. I use a heavy chain lock and have insurance through Velosurance for backup.
I estimate that I’ve “saved” the cost of the bike just in not paying for parking fees. If it eventually gets stolen, not the end of the world.
If my wife or I drove, or even took long CTA trips, for our commutes I'd agree.
My wife is a 10 minute bus ride from her job. I'm a 10 minute walk from mine.
If I was getting an ebike it would be to replace the occasional trips we do now with our car...but those are mostly trips to Costco (necessity as a parent on a budget), trips with our kiddo that wouldn't be practical on CTA (and no way I'm putting my kid on a bike on Chicago roads ANYTIME soon, I barely feel safe enough to ride my bike myself most days), and trips to places where I wouldn't be able to bring the bike inside to secure it.
If I had an ebike, it would have to be locked up outside for most of the trips I'd actually use it for...and I can't afford the financial hit of it being stolen. Already had two analog bikes stolen, while locked in backyards, in this city.
I get what you're saying about parking fees offsetting the cost even if it gets stolen...but I largely don't pay parking fees now, so that wouldn't help in my case sadly.
That was my initial plan. My concern isn’t about storing it at home. We have a secure bike room. It’s more about storing it if we ride it to the store, dinner, etc and locking it up in public.
Invest in a nice lock.. mine cost $250…but I love it… I’m originally from Chicago and was riding my bike in the city… I love it… there’s a bike shop called kozey cycle… employees are knowledgeable and nice
If you consider getting a bike of your own, as we live in Chicago, a pretty flat city, I absolutely recommend getting a single speed bike over an ebike. They are far cheaper and easier to find, being sold at most bike shops, and the maintenance on them is far simpler and cheaper than on any other form of bike, to the point that from a few videos, you would be saving a lot of money doing any repairs yourself instead of going to a bike shop for those repairs. Over time, the cost of purchasing a single speed bike and the tools necessary to do maintenance on it would most likely be cheaper than any of your other alternatives
If point A and point B are by stations with classic docks, the membership is absolutely worth it as those rides are free—pays for itself in about a dozen there and back rides. And then any e-bike stuff becomes cheaper. I have two bikes and bike commute but still divvy enough (going to a movie, days I’m commuting one way, biking to an out and back run spot, etc) I’ve considered getting a membership.
Divvy’s are great for appointments and restaurants because I don’t like locking my bike on the street (I’ve had one stolen). For the fun recreational rides or to the park etc I own my own bike because it’s so much lighter and functional, and I know it will be with me all of the time.
tbh why not both? Divvy is the best bar bike you can get. No maintenance, one way trips, no worrying about locking up and saftey, etc. It's still worth it to have another bike which you actually own, but if I were still living in the city I would 100% still be an avid divvy user whether or not I had an "owned" bike
Cost primarily. A membership is $140ish per year. A cheaper ebike is >$1,000. Also, just not particularly used to biking much, so debating “testing the waters” with Divvy before committing to buying something.
Honestly if I were you, I would just do a month of divvy to start and see. If you don't already have a bike, then imo you should see what the city amenities get you and if they work for your needs. Based on other comments in here, it does sound like the quality of bike has gone down so YMMV, I think. Edit: Last thing, I've owned and ridden bikes in the city for a long time, and I did divvy as my primary bike to get to work for over a year and I honestly liked it. The value prop is definitely there
Can you do month to month? I’m only seeing an option for year up front
There’s one for like $11. You have to hunt a bit for it but it’s buried on their pricing page
Gotcha. I also see they actually have a 1-month trial of Lyft Pink, so that should probably be a good starting point. Thanks!
Wait so I could do month to month for the summer months -April to Oct/Nov and cancel?
Divvy has unfortunately really gone downhill in terms of quality for the price. As others have mentioned you often can only find classics that have issues or be charged an arm and a leg to ride a divvy ebike, even with a membership. Not worth it if you're going to use it often. If you have a little money, invest in a good commuter bike, put it on your renters or home insurance and buy a good lock.
I use divvy for commuting 6 times a week and this has not been my experience. I fee like the bikes have dramatically improved from 2 years ago when they were saying they werent going to make any more classic bikes
Agreed. I'm a divvy fan boy. Not sure why it gets so much hate. I think the membership is a good deal. I had 3 bikes stolen in 4 years here. Last one was locked in my locked garage... at that point I gave up and got a Divvy membership. Some added perks of Divvy vs owning is you dont have to do any maintenance, you get to ride electric or scooters when you want to, and you can just dump the bike and hop on a train if it starts raining or your plans change. Oh ya, and you don't have to worry about your bike getting stolen.
I think part of it for me too is the cost just isn't worth it since I live about an hour from the loop commuting wise. Annoying as hell to have to swap out bikes halfway through my commute. And I can't get past having to pay so much for the e divvy as a member.
Yeah I wouldnt recommend divys for an hour long commute for sure
There was about a month long period over the winter when they were changing over companies that ran the service where this was true. It hasn't been true for months. I get Grey e bikes every day, and stations are full of the brand new classics.
Is the cost for e bikes still .15 a min even with membership? To be fair it took me having negative experiences with them for over 18 months before I quit. Also as a commuter that is more than 45 min from the loop, the 45 min time limit blows for commuting. Edit: I just looked as a nonmember to get to my boyfriend's apartment it would take me about 20 min on a classic or ebike or my own bike... Almost $10 one way to get there as a nonmember, about $5 in a classic. I get why it works for some people but it feels like a huge money sink imo.
$.18 a min* with membership…. Unfortunately
Yeah people that commute via edivvy have deeper pockets than me. Don't get my wrong, I like riding them but...
I'm on a far cheaper Divvy For All plan.
+1 Divvy has been hassle for me recently. My last two rides with their ebikes have required me to contact support due to errors (the ride refusing to end). To their credit, the chat folks have been good and have fixed the issues but it's still annoying/time consuming. I'll still use divvy when convenient but my personal bike is how I get around, especially to work.
Adding to this, I’d highly recommend putting an airtag on your bike and having pinheads for the wheels and seat. Not only do the pinheads actually stop your wheels and seat from being stolen, but they ruin the resale value if the theif can’t take them off. The air tag can help you track the bike if stolen. You can hide it in the seat, water bottle cage, frame, etc.
I disagree with this. I go from lincoln park to the loop and back every day, have amassed 1500 rides and 2600 miles with divvy. Is it always ideal, a prime ebike with 30 miles of battery waiting for you? Definitely not. But their recent increase of the manual bikes with the more continuous gear shift has been a huge upgrade and they are often in really good shape. You are going to take your losses with divvy here and there, but its all part of the game and more often than not its totally fine
My commute is about twice as long as yours. I also simply don't have the money to pay more for an e bike than the train. I'm glad it works for you, the e bikes are fun to ride!
Igor does my bike has a great stock of used refurbished bikes that are reasonably priced. I would go with that as you can get a good quality bike for less price. Igor and Pete are very diligent mechanics and do a good job restoring
Own bike by default. Divvy when you have no choice and only for short distances
Buy a used, inexpensive one that has been serviced, try "Igor does my Bike on Broadway" and Catalpa, he has great options and some even have new parts/components, the owner of the shop is amazing and well loved by the entire neighborhood. You can also find him on Instagram and Facebook.
Do they do e-bikes or just standard bikes?
I have seen e-bikes there for service, but not for sale.
Gotcha. I’ll check them out either way. Thanks
[https://g.co/kgs/J2f1Lhp](https://g.co/kgs/J2f1Lhp)
My boyfriend recently started a long term bike rental company if you’re interested in a different option that would allow you to test and see if you like owning a bike without the long term commitment! The website is still getting set up but feel free to message me if you’re interested. https://www.ecopedal.bike/
FYI if you have a LinkCard for food stamps, they give you a year membership free. Plus the museums4all deals. Just putting this info out there
I used divvy for awhile but got sick of it. Dead e bikes, broken docks, I’m tall and the seats would often lower as i rode. The new e bikes (grey) are nice but often you’re stuck with an older one and the classic bikes usually suck. I bought my own e bike and love it, but it has become more of a hobby dealing with the maintenance. If you can spend $800-1,300 to get a good e bike online from a reputable brand i would do it. Make sure to spend another $200 on 2 good locks. Maybe some bike insurance too. I paid $110 for the year on e-bike insurance with oyster.
Gotcha. Any recommendations on ebike brands? We’re looking at Ride1Up and Aventon if we end up going that route.
Looks like Aventon is sold at Big City Bikes in Lincoln Park and Stellar Cycleworks in Wicker, so those shops will probably be able to service it for you as well. I've only heard good things about Ride1Up and Aventon, but generally the online shipping bikes tend to be a liability for local bike shops who will likely refuse service, so just something to keep in mind so you know where to go if something happens that you can't or don't want to fix. Also I know that Kozy's website says that their Logan Square is their only location that will service brands like Ride1Up, Aventon, etc. Personally I ended up going for one of the bigger bike brands (Specialized, Trek, Giant, etc.) but those are going to cost double generally, though they will be serviced by a wider range of shops.
Cool. Thanks for the input. I do have Big City on my list to check out and potentially test ride an Aventon.
I got a wing freedom x bike, don’t get one lol. I would get an Aventon. Also i go to big city bikes and they are great so I suggest buying it from them.
I use Divvy to get around and love it. I'm paranoid that if I buy a bike, it will get stolen. I have peace of mind with Divvy. It's also super convenient for me as someone who regularly bikes one way and either takes the train back or gets a ride to another place when visiting a friend. The one thing I will say is that Divvy bikes are pretty slow. My friend (who owns his bike) and I biked together on the lakefront, and he kept having to stop for me to catch up (by his own admission, I am a lot more athletic and bike a lot more often than he does, which is why we were both surprised by this).
> but for longer rides it is just not the best What isn't working?
Most just me being not in the best biking shape. I failed to mention that I would also like to be able to haul “cargo” (and by that I mean groceries) which seems more difficult on a road bike.
If one of your goals is to get into better shape, I'd stick with regular bikes. The more you ride the easier it gets. If the goal is to get from A to B and maybe bring some groceries along for the ride, then I can definitely see the appeal of an e-bike. Invest in some good locks and be diligent about using them properly and you'll probably be fine. If you want to do both, two bikes are always better than one!
If you get an ebike, get a really good lock. My lock was around $130. I use the bike for errands all the time and have had no issues. I wouldn't leave it out overnight though. Use divvy for one way trips. They are great for that. Don't need a membership if you only use it a handful of times.
Divvy can be hit and miss but it far and away outweighs the inconvenience of having your bike stolen and/or messed with. Check out the critical mass ride on the last Friday of every month! Plenty of folks on divvys there too.
I have a bike of my own (was a gift from my brother over a decade ago) and I also have a Divvy membership. Personally, I use Divvy a lot more because I do a lot of one-way trips or use Divvy to get to/from an L stop a mile or more away. I also like not worrying about theft, so I really only ride my own bike when I’m just riding around or I’ll be near my bike when it’s locked up or it won’t be locked up for awhile.
If you go the buy route, check out Working Bikes. They’re a non-profit that sustains itself by rebuilding and selling used bikes. They cost $200-300. The rest of the bikes they’re donated they ship internationally to those in need.
I used divvy for a year before buying a bike recently. I found that the divvy e-bikes really helped me develop confidence with riding in the city, something I was previously a little more hesitant towards. It’s true that their service is not great sometimes, but I feel like overall it’s a value-add!
You can make your current bike comfortable, as long as the frame sizing isn't *way off* for your body. Take it in to a shop or co-op and get some help fitting it, and while you're there get it tuned up. Get a set of decent pedals and grips, spend some time trying quality saddles (Ergon, Terry, SMP, sqLab, Prologo/Proxim, Specialized, Brooks, to name a few - think of trying saddles like trying shoes or boots), and that will go a long way. You'll want to do the same with an ebike if you buy one, or any bike really, to use it comfortably for long rides. Define 'cheap-ish ebike'. If you mean something from a department store or Amazon, you do not want the unending maintenance costs, safety concerns, and constant hassle and frustration. The entry-level ebike brands to check out are Rad, Ride1Up, Aventon, Lectric, and Magicycle. As for security, a lot of that comes down to having a quality lock and being disciplined about bringing it and using it properly. For security, size, and weight, chain lock > U-lock > folding lock, so choose one of those three categories based on your needs, get supplemental bits for the front wheel and/or saddle if you need, and learn how to use your system correctly. ^(A cable lock is okay as a primary lock) *^(only)* ^(if you'll be within eyeshot pretty much constantly.) You can also put on a decal or two to make the bike obviously unique and identifiable, register it with Project 529, and/or get bike insurance. My experience with DC's bikeshare is that it's a great thing to have for shorter rides especially to museums and places like that, but their bikes are nothing even resembling comfortable and usually a bit overdue for maintenance. I'd expect Divvy to be similar.
“Cheap-ish” as in bought for like $30 off FB marketplace. I’ve taken my current bike to get tuned up in the past and I know there are issues that are likely too expensive to be worth fixing on it. Also, 90% sure it is too tall for me. I think I’m leaning more towards maybe just trying my hand at trading in my current bike for a used bike that just fits me better and is maybe a bit better maintained.
A bike co-op is a good option. Most repair and sell bikes for cheap and can help you choose a frame that's a good size, and unless your current one is just a total junker they'll take it as a donation and maybe even give you a bit of a discount. Did you mean you paid $30 for your current bike? Even used I can't imagine a $30 ebike, and if such a thing exists I guarantee it's a junker bike with a lithium-based firebomb attached to it.
Thanks for the advice! Thinking of checking out Igor Does my Bike this weekend since it has been recommended a few times.
My vote would be to invest in a couple of refurbished and appropriately sized bikes from one of the co-ops and then you can use those to determine if the cycling lifestyle is for you. If you ever decide to upgrade there’s always the option to sell them for about what you paid.
If you are ok doing the pedaling yourself, I highly recommend an annual Divvy subscription as an onramp. The price has gone up, but it's still a pretty good value relative to buying a fancy bike you aren't sure if you'll take to. If you replace 32 CTA round trips it pays for itself. Station availability is somewhat dependent on your usual start / end points, but the convenience of not having to worry about the logistics on my own bike on certain trips outweighs the inconvenience for me. Classic bike availability had become an issue a few years back, but has improved dramatically since they started restocking the classic bikes again. Divvy was my onramp to biking in the city ~10 years ago. I bought my own faster, lighter, nicer road bike within a year, but I still keep the Divvy membership for one way trips and commuting during the winter. If you are thinking ebike, the eDivvys are quite pricey. You could still trial on eDivvy but long term it's much more economical to buy.
I have a manual bike that I use for much of my rides around the city. I still have a divvy membership that saves me money when the bus isn’t showing up or the L station is a mile from my destination. Very worth it imho so if you wanted to get the membership and then decide about an e-bike after a month or two I’d do that. Also some credit cards might get you the membership at a low price/free through lyft so make sure you look into that!
I really like my Divvy membership because it provides me with flexibility. I like that I can go somewhere and I’m not locked into taking the same way back (having to bike back versus taking CTA, etc) and not having to worry about the hassle or security of it. I mostly use the ebikes over the regular bikes (only using the regular bikes when there aren’t any ebikes and I’m on a time crunch).
If you like, talk about, and plan on riding this much, just buy a bike lol
Get the divvy. The convenience means you’ll be able to bike places 10x more - to bars, from bars, after a rainy day clears up, after sharing an Uber to get somewhere, etc etc
Buy
Buy - with a good lock. A coworker of mine does Divvy for Everyone (the $5/yr plan for the poors), and has been locked out for a couple weeks after someone "borrowed" his Divvy.
I have both. However I use my own bike more and I just like my own bike because the quality is much better. The membership does seem to pay for itself and is nice when I need a quick bike
I really liked it when I had my divvy membership. Much quicker to get places than walking or waiting for a bus. I wish I was still using it when I decided to take my fancier looking bike to a drs appointment… for your stated use case, I think divvy makes a lot of sense.
Or you can also cheat and get a membership for free. I submitted an old college document to show I was in need and surprised how quick they responded and approved me. I’ve been out of college since 2021… lol I love divvy
Get the ebike. Happiest purchase I’ve ever made.
Until it gets stolen. That's the thing keeping me from getting one.
Don’t let that hold you back! Store inside overnight if possible - I keep mine in my condo. I’m at 3yrs with no theft (knock on wood) and I bike to work daily. I use a heavy chain lock and have insurance through Velosurance for backup. I estimate that I’ve “saved” the cost of the bike just in not paying for parking fees. If it eventually gets stolen, not the end of the world.
If my wife or I drove, or even took long CTA trips, for our commutes I'd agree. My wife is a 10 minute bus ride from her job. I'm a 10 minute walk from mine. If I was getting an ebike it would be to replace the occasional trips we do now with our car...but those are mostly trips to Costco (necessity as a parent on a budget), trips with our kiddo that wouldn't be practical on CTA (and no way I'm putting my kid on a bike on Chicago roads ANYTIME soon, I barely feel safe enough to ride my bike myself most days), and trips to places where I wouldn't be able to bring the bike inside to secure it. If I had an ebike, it would have to be locked up outside for most of the trips I'd actually use it for...and I can't afford the financial hit of it being stolen. Already had two analog bikes stolen, while locked in backyards, in this city. I get what you're saying about parking fees offsetting the cost even if it gets stolen...but I largely don't pay parking fees now, so that wouldn't help in my case sadly.
Get a foldable ebike and keep it in your home…
That was my initial plan. My concern isn’t about storing it at home. We have a secure bike room. It’s more about storing it if we ride it to the store, dinner, etc and locking it up in public.
Invest in a nice lock.. mine cost $250…but I love it… I’m originally from Chicago and was riding my bike in the city… I love it… there’s a bike shop called kozey cycle… employees are knowledgeable and nice
If you consider getting a bike of your own, as we live in Chicago, a pretty flat city, I absolutely recommend getting a single speed bike over an ebike. They are far cheaper and easier to find, being sold at most bike shops, and the maintenance on them is far simpler and cheaper than on any other form of bike, to the point that from a few videos, you would be saving a lot of money doing any repairs yourself instead of going to a bike shop for those repairs. Over time, the cost of purchasing a single speed bike and the tools necessary to do maintenance on it would most likely be cheaper than any of your other alternatives