Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 14, 2013 at 3:54am

Any different than this CDOT Program Director thread?

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 16, 2013 at 6:01am

From what I can tell, both threads are discussing the same position. Given that it is still essentially impossible to search the Chainlink, I don't see how we can reasonably expect not to see duplicate threads. But they are not duplicates anyway. Julie's thread was an announcement of a position. 

But Skip's thread is asking a question about the Divvy program in general - and it is a great question - given that we really need to diversify the kinds of work available in Chicago, why are we sending millions (?) of dollars a year to China for bikes that we should be building right here?

I asked Gable Klein the same question before Divvy launched and he said, essentially that if we added a local manufacturing requirement to the Divvy contract that it just wouldn't get done. Gabe Klein was in a hurry and as we all know, haste makes waste. We wasted a huge opportunity to employ Chicagoans. Now that Gabe Klein is gone I see no reason why we can't ask the same question again and expect, even demand a better answer.

  

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Permalink Reply by Eli on December 16, 2013 at 6:14am

Are the Divvy bikes made in China?

I find conflicting information online. Some sources say that Bixi bikes (the Divvy supplier) are made in Quebec by Cycles Devinci. But an article about the company's financial difficulties (http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Montreal+auditor+general+voices...) from September indicates that they are made in China. Was there a recent in change? Do the Divvy bikes indicate a country of origin on the frame?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on December 18, 2013 at 7:02pm

Sad irony. Schwinn bikes were originally made right here in Chicago and dominated the market. I have some fond memories of those bikes when I was a kid. Sure would be nice to bring that manufacturing back to it's roots. Those Divvy bikes are pricey. I know there are a few custom frame makers around here. Maybe we could crowdsource some funding and take back what rightfully belongs to us in the first place.

Eli said:

Are the Divvy bikes made in China?

I find conflicting information online. Some sources say that Bixi bikes (the Divvy supplier) are made in Quebec by Cycles Devinci. But an article about the company's financial difficulties (http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Montreal+auditor+general+voices...) from September indicates that they are made in China. Was there a recent in change? Do the Divvy bikes indicate a country of origin on the frame?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on December 18, 2013 at 9:12pm

Shipment and transport from China alone seems to outweigh (literally and figuratively) the good of biking in terms of the city's carbon footprint. If they were made here, however...

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 19, 2013 at 4:12am

Oh there is an interesting question! How many miles must a DIVVY travel before it makes up for its own carbon footprint?

And then how would that change if the bike (and its associated infrastructure) were built locally?

Sarah D. 1-3.3 said:

Shipment and transport from China alone seems to outweigh (literally and figuratively) the good of biking in terms of the city's carbon footprint. If they were made here, however...

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