Divvy First Ride Reports
As many of us take our first Divvy rides over the next few days, jot down your experiences, impressions or any tips you may have for using Divvy.
I'll start:
I got to Daley Plaza a little past five this evening, for the Pre-Launch Divvy Ride. My first impression was: man, that's a lot of bikes sitting there! I checked in at the Divvy tent--and was pleased to find out I didn't need to activate my key fob yet: my paper invitation was all I needed. Each bike was tagged with one of our names; there was literally a bike with my name on it on the plaza.
Many recognizable faces on the plaza. I caught up briefly with Anne Alt & Julie Hochstadter, saw John Greenfield scoping things out, chatted with Elliot Greenberger (Divvy's PR guy) and Eddie Imlow (Divvy's General Manager) who was managing to be everywhere even while being hobbled by crutches.
It began to drizzle. Then it began to rain. Then it began to REALLY RAIN. My free cup of gelato from the nearby gelato truck began to melt in the warm raindrops. An amazing number of people squeezed under the three little tents. And lots of folks plastered themselves up against the front of the Daley Center, against the windows, trying to stay dry. I didn't hear much of Gabe Klein's speech, as the windy storm was howling at its height right about then.
Only a few Divvy cyclists had left the plaza when I found my Divvy bike and headed north, first on Dearborn, then up Clark to Fullerton, then up Orchard to Diversey and finally to Wilton. Diversey & Wilton was the furthest north operational station tonight, which is why I picked it.
Locking up was a little tricky. I tried several times, but couldn't make the green light come on or the lock activate. Shortly after, four more Divvy riders arrived to lock up. One had used the Washington, DC bike share, and slammed--really slammed--the front wheel into the lock tower and the green light came right on. I tested the lock by lifting the rear wheel and tugging the bike backwards, but the lock held. We all tried the same thing and successfully locked all five bikes. **TIP** Don't be gentle when locking up, it seems you need to really slam the front wheel forward into the slot. And don't walk away from the bike until you're sure it's locked--you're re$pon$ible for it until it's secured.
Oddly, even now, after three hours, the Diversey/Wilton station still reports zero bikes and fifteen open docks on the CycleFinder app, even though I know at least five bikes are locked there, possibly more. Perhaps that station isn't communicating properly with the mainframe computer?
Other impressions from my ride: the bike is big, heavy, comfy & cushy. It absorbed potholes and bumps beautifully, but you had to really work at moving off the line at a green light. The three speeds seemed kind of close together, and didn't really provide much difference from first to third. The front rack with integrated bungee cord held my bag and water bottle securely.
Be prepared to be the center of attention during the next week, while Divvy is still new. I had other cyclists stop to ask me how I liked the Divvy. Pedestrians and motorists gawked and stared at the bike. I got one "Whohoo! You got the first ride! I chickened out in the rain..." from a pedestrian I passed.
**Tip** Spend a little time experimenting with the saddle height. The post is helpfully marked off in inches, so you can replicate the height quickly each time. I stopped and changed it three times during my ride: I've decided 4-and-a-half-inches height seems right for me.
I have no experience checking out a bike yet. One of the guys who was locking alongside me had an activated key fob, but it didn't release the bike. That may have to wait until the system is officially open tomorrow.
Have fun! I look forward to hearing about your first Divvy rides.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Duppie on
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Setup: This morning I am working near Union Station and in the afternoon I have some appointment in River North and then I’ll meet Mrs. Duppie for a date night. So I wear a nice suit and take the Metra in to Ogilvie.
Walking out of Ogilvie station the docking station is right in front of you (Clinton @ Washington). Despite Divvy saying that this station would be closed today for the parade, it is actually open. There are a handful of Divvy reps and Bike Ambassadors. After a little chat I unlock a bike. Takes no effort and maybe 5 seconds. I put my satchel in the basket and it fits well. I think small laptop bags or womens purses may fit nicely, anything bigger may be a problem. Before I can jump on the bike I get accosted by a reported from WBEZ. She asks a few questions and thanks me and I am finally on my way. Since I ride this street every day I very familiar with it. One thing I notice is that I miss the green light that I usually catch on my own bike. This bike really is a little slower. A couple of pedestrians comment on the bike while I am waiting for a light. By now the seat starts to swivel. I probably did not tighten it enough. I don’t bother to stop and look at it, since I am not going very far.
A few block south I turn on Adams, planning to park my bike on Adams @ Jefferson. I had seen the station on Adams and Jefferson earlier this week and the map showed it active with slots available. Imagine my surprise when I turn the corner and there is no station! For a moment I think Divvy is playing a Jedi mind trick on me. I double check the app and yes, it says it is there. I decide to go to the nearest station and ride north. Once I hit Monroe I see the station named Jefferson and Adams on the left side of the street. They must have moved it a block north in the last few days. The station has 11 bikes in it, while the app says 5. Checking in is easy, but it does take a firm push. I check the app again and it updates to 6. Despite there being 12 bikes now…
The Jefferson and Adams station, which is actually located on the corner of Jefferson and Monroe, more than a block North.
So in conclusion: It works. While there are some startup issues (bike counts at docks are incorrect, station can be in different spots than indicated on the map) it was an overall pleasant experience. And yes, you can wear a suit while riding it, something that is impossible on my other bikes.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on
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Cross-posting here since I didn't see this new thread before:
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Permalink Reply by JMinHP on
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Ha, Michelle. I thought you might be on CL, being an early adopter of Divvy. I was next to you when the bus driver asked you if that was a motor bike at the light, and then asked if you were at last night's rally before continuing South on Clark. Small world. I have yet to activate my key fob; I'm waiting for when I actually need divvy (which would have been great earlier this week with the morning rains so that I could bike home).
Michelle Stenzel said:I activated my fob and used Cyclefinder to find bikes near me last evening. My hubby and I went for a short joyride in the neighborhood yesterday, and then I rode one in to work today. The bikes are like tanks: Very stable, smooth, comfortable. I just ride right over bumps and potholes that I would avoid with my thinner-tire bike. The one minor thing is that undocking is a little tricky. It's hard to tell when the bike is actually released, even when the green light goes on, and it's a little hard to get it out of its stall. Redocking is very easy. Lots of people asked questions en route, including other bike riders, pedestrians, and even a CTA bus driver (who asked me "Is that one of those motor bikes?").
Michelle Stenzel said:Cross-posting here since I didn't see this new thread before:
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Nice to meet you, JM! I often wonder if others are on CL as well. I usually don't ride on Clark but was a Wells Street refugee this morning.
That bus driver's was the most puzzling question I was asked -- I'd like to think he thought the bike was motorized because of my awesome cruising speed, but I guess it was because of the look of the internal hub.
Don't wait to activate; you're missing out on the fun!
JM 6.5 said:Ha, Michelle. I thought you might be on CL, being an early adopter of Divvy. I was next to you when the bus driver asked you if that was a motor bike at the light, and then asked if you were at last night's rally before continuing South on Clark. Small world. I have yet to activate my key fob; I'm waiting for when I actually need divvy (which would have been great earlier this week with the morning rains so that I could bike home).
Michelle Stenzel said:I activated my fob and used Cyclefinder to find bikes near me last evening. My hubby and I went for a short joyride in the neighborhood yesterday, and then I rode one in to work today. The bikes are like tanks: Very stable, smooth, comfortable. I just ride right over bumps and potholes that I would avoid with my thinner-tire bike. The one minor thing is that undocking is a little tricky. It's hard to tell when the bike is actually released, even when the green light goes on, and it's a little hard to get it out of its stall. Redocking is very easy. Lots of people asked questions en route, including other bike riders, pedestrians, and even a CTA bus driver (who asked me "Is that one of those motor bikes?").
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Permalink Reply by Christine (5.0) on
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Went to the rally last night, with an out of town friend. I learned to ride without training wheels when I was 3.5 years old... she never learned to ride without them!
Definitely a nice solid ride. I had fun puttering around Daley Plaza, and tried to teach her how to ride. As steady as they are, they don't seem to be magical enough to teach a person how to ride a bike from scratch in under 30 minutes. Nevertheless, I think that might actually be an interesting use for them. As a 6' woman, if I want to teach my other lady friends how to ride, I don't exactly have a suitable bike to teach them on. Now instead I can check out a Divvy, and use that instead.
Since I had my bike, and she wasn't yet trained enough to follow me home, we returned the bike to the station at Daley Center, I biked home, and she took the CTA.
Oh, and if anybody happened to have shot pictures of us at the plaza, it would be awesome if you could get those to me :) I'm wearing a black polo, she is wearing a cream colored dress.
Riding in on Milwaukee this morning, the Divvy stations didn't seem overly full. Hopefully it's because people were using them!
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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on
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Once the rain eased up, I had a very pleasant ride. I immediately appreciated one of the bike's fine features: fenders. No splashing or splattering. Very civilized and comfortable. It's geared for easy pedaling and cruising. The hub dynamo-powered LED lights make the bikes very recognizable even from a distance. Had a few questions from pedestrians along the way. Left the bike at Federal Plaza, probably the location I'll use most often.
This morning I wanted to get a bike from the station shown on the app at State & Harrison but couldn't find a station there. Has anyone found that one?
Once you've experimented and found your perfect seat height, look for the numbers on one side of the seat post and make note of the number where the post comes out of the seat tube. You can use that setting to get the right seat height immediately on every bike you use.
I used Bixi for a few days in Toronto on a trip last year - same bikes and docks. I found it helpful to lift slightly and push or pull firmly to get the bikes in or out of a dock. If you have trouble docking it the first time, lift a little and give it some momentum so you get a good solid thump. Watch the lights on the dock and make sure you've got a green light to ensure that the bike is really docked and your trip clock has stopped.
If you ever have a mechanical problem or flat tire, you can push the red wrench button on the dock after you've checked your bike in. That locks the bike in place until it can be serviced. If you see a bike at a dock showing a red light, that one's been reported.
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The station that I was looking for had been moved from it's original location: More than a block North, on the other side of the street, on the sidewalk. The map still indicates the old location.
The Clinton @ Washington was originally located in the street. This morning it had magically moved to the sidewalk.
Maybe they moved the State&Harrison station as well?
Anne Alt said:This morning I wanted to get a bike from the station shown on the app at State & Harrison but couldn't find a station there. Has anyone found that one?
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Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on
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I just took a bike from Jackson and Franklin, super easy to undock and dock. Thanks for the pointer thundersnow, you do have to slam it in there! No better way to check out the celebration today!
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Permalink Reply by John Amdor on
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I got to Daley Plaza last night at about 4:45. I locked up my bike on the south side of Washington outside the county building. I met my cousin Chewy after he finished work at City Hall and we sat and watched Divvy workers set up the bikes. We walked over and ran into Ben, a Divvy worker that is in the urban planning program with me at UIC. I sauntered over to the columns of bikes and found the one with my tag. Ben, Chewy, and I chatted and ran into another couple MUPPs. Many of the heavy hitters of Chicago bike planning and advocacy appeared. Folks from CDOT, Active Trans, Divvy leadership, the Mayor's office, etc.
Then the rain came. Soft at first, then growing in intensity. My suit (purchased for a dollar by another cousin at a church sale in Fontana, WI) got more and more saturated. Alderman Ameya Pawar arrive and Gabe Klein began to speak. He thanked a litany of people, from the Mayor and (now former-) Transportation Sec. LaHood on down. Ron Burke spoke as well and Eliott from Divvy gave some basic directions about returning the bikes and stations closing for the parade today. I strapped on my GoPro and plopped on my helmet.
Then we were off! I headed to my bike, hopped on and pedaled away. A photographer snapped away as I plopped my pannier into the basket and backed out. He commented on my GoPro, telling me what a great idea it was. I laughed and thanked him and pedaled away.
As I rode past a cameraman on the plaza, I heard a voice behind me shout, "Tom! Tom!" Since that's not my name, I paid it no mind. People under a tent began to wave at me and point so I stopped and turned. A woman with a camera phone stopped behind me. "Oh, you're not Tom," she said. "No," I replied, "But you can take my picture if you'd like." She didn't. I shrugged and rolled on.
Pulling into the Dearborn PBL facing south, I began to actually pay attention to the ride. It rode steadily and smoothly on the wet pavement. Once I downshifted I was much more comfortable. I pedaled down Dearborn, ringing the bell. A few people glanced up at me, but most kept their heads down in the rain, which by that point had softened to a drizzle.
Turning right onto Madison, I noticed a few people stealing glances at me. I kept dinging my bell, trying to catch an eye and show off, but most people aren't really inclined to interact with a sodden 26-year-old with a camera strapped to his forehead riding a big blue cruiser in a cheap suit. You kind of look like a crazy person.
Anyhow, I rode down to LaSalle and headed north back to Washington. As I rode east, I signaled and moved into the left lane. Stopped at Clark, I waved at Ben Gomberg from across the street. I don't think he actually knows who I am, but I was ebullient. I considered pulling on the sidewalk to get to the station but stuck in the left lane. I arrived with the station to find Divvy Ben helping a customer with her bike. I grabbed my pannier, lifted my bike on the sidewalk and walked over to the dock. It locked smoothly on my first try.
So ended my first ride.If you're interested, I've posted the video of the ride here. The music, despite being about driving down a Jersey highway, still applies.
"The nights busting open
These two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels"
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Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on
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When you go into your account on the website, does it show your Bike Key # under your account information section?
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Permalink Reply by Erik Swedlund on
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On my profile page, there is a spot for the bike key number to appear, but it is blank.
J.A.W. said:When you go into your account on the website, does it show your Bike Key # under your account information section?
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Thanks Erik!
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I activated my fob and used Cyclefinder to find bikes near me last evening. My hubby and I went for a short joyride in the neighborhood yesterday, and then I rode one in to work today. The bikes are like tanks: Very stable, smooth, comfortable. I just ride right over bumps and potholes that I would avoid with my thinner-tire bike. The one minor thing is that undocking is a little tricky. It's hard to tell when the bike is actually released, even when the green light goes on, and it's a little hard to get it out of its stall. Redocking is very easy. Lots of people asked questions en route, including other bike riders, pedestrians, and even a CTA bus driver (who asked me "Is that one of those motor bikes?").