Divvy

I've noticed that a number of us primarily use Divvy to get around. I figured I'd create this thread to discuss all things Divvy. Compliments. Complaints. Suggestions. All welcome.

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Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on December 27, 2017 at 10:22am

There was healthy double digit growth in annual subscribers in 2015 and 2016. Perhaps more locals decided that biking was a good alternative to the bus/train, and decided to purchase an annual pass rather than day passes. I don't recall there being a major downturn in tourism in 2016 that might explain the 7.7% drop.

The drop in OT trips is probably due to better education, and more stations. When the service first rolled out I believe there was a lot of confusion over the term "Day Pass". I think a lot of folks thought it was a bike for a day, rather than an unlimited number of 30 minute rides. Having more stations makes it a little easier to keep a ride under the 30 minute mark.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on December 28, 2017 at 4:07am

Would be curious to read some more analysis about the non-subscriber decrease in 2016. Wonder if 2017 will show a continued slide or a rebound.

Hopefully the total trip numbers will still be up for 2017.

Permalink Reply by Steve Fiete on December 28, 2017 at 6:08am

Below are trip counts for the first 2 quarters of each year. The latest data available is as of 6/30/2017, so I looked at trip count as of mid-year for each year.  Non-subscriber counts are down, but Subscriber trip counts are up, and we will likely be up for the year.  Note that over half of the trips are in the second half of the year, so the outcome could be different.

It would be nice to understand why this is happening.  As Argonne speculated, it could be that the people who try out the system before subscribing have mostly become subscribers at this point, so we are left with the truly occasional users and tourists.

I find it surprising.  I would have predicted that improved bike lane availability would bring an increase in non-subscribers.  Also expanding into new neighborhoods would attract people who try it out a few times before subscribing.

YTD as of 6/30
usertype year count
Non-Subscriber 2013 3,120
Non-Subscriber 2014 313,988
Non-Subscriber 2015 325,836
Non-Subscriber 2016 322,825
Non-Subscriber 2017 317,162
Subscriber 2013 885
Subscriber 2014 591,711
Subscriber 2015 770,352
Subscriber 2016 1,146,915
Subscriber 2017 1,234,339
Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on December 29, 2017 at 6:19am

In 2015 there were 50.97 million visitors to Chicago. In 2016, it increased to 54.1 million. In the first half of 2017 the city was on pace to break the record once again. So, a drop in tourism can't explain the numbers. I guess it's possible that the price increase may have played a small role.

How about the weather? I don't seem to recall the weather being that bad this summer, which could have scared away the tourists.

Is there a breakdown by month? We had a rainy Spring, which could be a factor.

Permalink Reply by Steve Fiete on December 29, 2017 at 9:21am

It used to be easy to get weather data by day for free from weatherunderground, but no more.  When I had looked at the effect of temperature and precipitation on number of rides, the effect was big and really big on non-subscribers.  If I get it from another source i will post trip counts by usertype and by year for nice weather days only this will show if the weather is the driving issue. Since we have a drop in 2016 and again in 2017, then it seems unlikely.  I have summarized trip counts by month and attached the results.

by_month.csv

Permalink Reply by Steve Fiete on December 30, 2017 at 6:33am

It is not only the weather.  Below is a summary of trips by year only on days where the mean daytime temperature was above 65 degrees.  Also there is a summary of trips from the first two quarters of each year so that we can compare 2017 to prior years.

Days when mean daytime temp > 65
1/1/2014 to 6/30/2017
usertype year count change
Non-Subscriber 2014 607,812
Non-Subscriber 2015 692,352 13.9%
Non-Subscriber 2016 665,418 -3.9%
Non-Subscriber 2017 208,943
Subscriber 2014 920,606
Subscriber 2015 1,203,806 30.8%
Subscriber 2016 1,559,229 29.5%
Subscriber 2017 530,674
First Two Quarters of each year change
usertype year  count 
Non-Subscriber 2014 226,994
Non-Subscriber 2015 211,343 -6.9%
Non-Subscriber 2016 221,642 4.9%
Non-Subscriber 2017 208,943 -5.7%
Subscriber 2014 294,052
Subscriber 2015 315,156 7.2%
Subscriber 2016 488,816 55.1%
Subscriber 2017 530,674 8.6%

The chart shows trip counts by temperature range for all dates from 1/1/2014 through 6/30/2017

Permalink Reply by Jared on December 29, 2017 at 4:39am

When did they double the day pass rate?  A huge price increase like that would have to have some effect on demand.

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on December 29, 2017 at 6:11am

I don't believe it was doubled in one go. They raised it each year if I recall. $9.95 is still not a bad deal.

Permalink Reply by Allan on January 6, 2018 at 3:50am

Actually Argonne69, the non-subscriber 24 hour pass rate was increased at one point from $7 to $10. That was it, it wasn't phased in over a few steps. I think that $3 increase in the 24 hour pass rate occurred sometime in 2016?

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on December 28, 2017 at 4:14am

Kudos to Divvy for getting the racks cleared. I know it was only a couple inches of snow, but with the frigid cold coming on its heels, it was important to get the snow cleared ASAP. The few racks I've seen were cleared fairly well. 'No issues getting the bikes in or out.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on December 28, 2017 at 6:37am

I was surprised/impressed by how well the Divvy station had been shoveled when I picked up a bike this morning!

I did notice on my way downtown that the station at Noble/Milwaukee was snowed in. I'd be curious to learn how they decide which ones to clear.

Permalink Reply by Argonne69 on December 28, 2017 at 8:53am

I have to imagine that it's the responsibility of the van driver to clear snow.

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