Exploring the Metropolis with Divvy Bikes
I seen Divvy bikes the second I stepped onto campus my first yr, however I didn’t understand their unimaginable potential until that first spring quarter. A pair associates and I had gone to the Cubs recreation and determined it could be enjoyable to bike again to Hyde Park. We acquired day passes and took our time leisurely biking alongside the lakefront, previous Chicago favorites such because the Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and the Shedd Aquarium.
Once I got here again to high school as a second-year (now residing in an off-campus house), I made a decision I might buy an annual Divvy membership. UChicago has 4 Divvy stations on campus and some extra within the surrounding blocks. Since there’s a Divvy station proper outdoors my house, I wished to avoid wasting time by biking—somewhat than strolling—to the health club, to the libraries, or to my analysis lab.
Once I got here again to Chicago this summer time, I made a decision to discover the untapped potential of the Divvy membership. Whereas Divvy bikes aren’t the best bikes, they’re nonetheless good for cross coaching. With Ratner health club being closed for the summer time, having the ability to Divvy was a pleasant change up from all the time working or taking part in soccer. Extra importantly, Divvy bikes offered the proper mode of outside transportation to discover completely different elements of Chicago. The lakefront path has each strolling and biking paths and the views are breathtaking. It takes wherever between 40 minutes to an hour to get to downtown Chicago from Hyde Park and you may select to maintain biking north (I like Montrose Seashore!) or you may bike into town.
Biking has allowed me to discover so many new neighborhoods and elements of Chicago. It’s additionally such a good way to hang around with associates in a social distanced method. I really like biking downtown after which exploring the Chicago meals scene by having fun with takeout with associates at varied areas on the lakefront (a private favourite is correct outdoors the Shedd Aquarium, which has beautiful views of town).
I wished to share just a few Divvy Suggestions for First-Time Riders:
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You’ll be able to both obtain the Divvy app or lease bikes utilizing the kiosks accessible at every station.
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Carry a bag with a water bottle, some hand sanitizer, and—you probably have one—a conveyable telephone charger simply in case. You’ll be able to simply retailer your bag within the entrance of any Divvy bike, since every bike has a basket and a bungee twine that you should use to safe your bag.
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You should use the code bikeUChicago and your UChicago electronic mail to get a reduced $75 annual scholar Divvy membership which supplies you limitless 45-minute bike rides all yr.
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For those who’re biking greater than 2.5 hours or plan on making loads of stops, check out the $15 day move which supplies you limitless 3-hour rides!
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For those who’re renting a motorcycle ($3 for half-hour), so long as your bike journey is below 50 minutes, it’s cheaper than redocking your bike on the 30 min mark and paying $3 for an additional journey
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Divvy lately launched electrical bikes (or e-bikes), and in Hyde Park the e-bikes value the identical as a traditional Divvy bike. You can also lock up e-bikes at any open bike rack (and never only a Divvy station!). Simply don’t attempt biking downtown, because you’ll begin getting charged per minute proper after you move Oakwood Seashore (round fortieth).
Divvying is one in all my favourite methods to discover town whereas getting a little bit train (and solar!) whereas catching up with associates. I extremely advocate that you just check out Divvy bikes you probably have an opportunity.
