Chicago's Divvy bike-share system is offering a new perk for its members – they won't have to pay to park bikes and scooters near full docking stations. As confirmed by a Divvy announcement on Tuesday, the usual $1.20 out-of-dock parking fee will be waived for members parking within 130 feet of an occupied station. The policy reflects an effort to accommodate increasing user demand, especially around bustling areas where dock availability can dwindle quickly, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The fee waiver applies to both electric bikes and scooters, which can be locked outside of docking stations, as per the Chicago Sun-Times. However, the reprieve from parking fees does not extend to standard, non-electric bikes – these will still need to be slotted into a docking station. For nonmembers, the standard $2.40 out-of-station fee remains in place.
The changes are effective immediately and, in part, result from the feedback collected from users. Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Carney said, "This new member benefit directly responds to feedback from riders and will be especially useful at our busiest stations," in a statement obtained by WGN-TV.
