Recently we heard from a Streetsblog reader and “loyal Divvy supporter” who was involved that the newer black and grey electrical bikes the bike-share system is progressively introducing, which is able to finally make up your complete fleet, may not all the time be accessible to all bike-share customers.
The older blue non-electric bikes can solely be parked on the old-school full-services Divvy docking stations. But the newer electrical bikes can be secured to particular “e-station” bike racks, in addition to another bike parking fixture or pole on the general public approach, utilizing a built-in cable lock.
When the system first launched in 2013, annual members may try bikes utilizing a plastic key fob that you simply insert into a keyhole within the dock. More not too long ago Divvy launched a smartphone app that permits customers to scan a QR code (a sq. black-and-white sample) on a bicycle with their telephones to unlock a bike, whether or not it’s parked in a docking station, or on an e-station, common bike rack, or pole.
“In the system the key fob has been a nice alternative to the Divvy app and QR code for people who either don’t have data on their smartphones, have limited date on their phones, or who do not have smartphones at all,” the reader wrote. He was underneath the impression that prospects are required to make use of telephone to unlock the e-bikes when they’re not parked at docking stations.
“Coming from a company that publicly prides itself on being an equitable company, this move seems highly inequitable,” the reader mentioned. “The e-stations are mostly located in neighborhoods that do not have [full-service] docking stations where you can use the fobs, which then may exclude people who don’t have unlimited data plans or smartphones from using the system.”
To be sincere, I’d by no means thought-about whether or not it’s potential to unlock electrical Divvies with a key fob if they aren’t parked at conventional stations. So I shared the reader’s issues with the Chicago Department of Transportation, which oversees the system.
“Divvy and Divvy for Everyone [discounted $5 annual membership] members are able to unlock each type of bicycle in the system with member key fobs,” responded CDOT spokesperson Mike Claffey. He mentioned that when an e-bike is locked at an e-station, common bike rack, or pole with its cable lock, members can use a fob instantly on the bike to unlock it.
For the older black e-bikes, the important thing fob might be held over the rear fender or the stem, the half that holds the handlebars.
For the newer grey electrical bikes, the fob might be held underneath the LED display screen on the stem.
If you’ve gotten bother accessing a bike, you may fill out this way on-line and Claffey mentioned Divvy will assist you to out as rapidly as potential.
“We would like to thank your reader for flagging this issue,” Claffey mentioned. “Members are our priority, and we want all of them to be able to access the bikes, whenever and wherever.”