CHICAGO — There's a new addition to the fleet of baby-blue bicycles that Chicagoans have come to recognize since the Divvy bike-share program debuted in June.
Those who spot the single red bicycle added to the fleet can win prizes from Chicago business by uploading photos of the bike on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Tumblr with the hashtag #divvyred.
And the 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, 200th, 300th rider to borrow the bike will win a free annual membership — or give it to a friend, if the rider already has one.
City officials also on Thursday announced a series of partnerships with businesses and community organizations, as well as discounted rides to employees of those organizations.
The partners are able to offer their employees a discounted annual Divvy membership — $65 or less instead of the usual $75.
Since Divvy's launch in late June, nearly 4,000 people have signed up for an annual membership.
"We are extremely pleased with the amount of early participation and enthusiasm the Chicago business community has shown for bike sharing," Gabe Klein, Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner, said in a news release.
The announcements came as Divvy opened its newest station at 1312 S. Racine Ave. There are 117 stations, and Divvy aims to have 300 by the fall.
“Bike sharing in Chicago has been very successful in just a very short time, and we are expanding the system into more neighborhoods for more Chicagoans to utilize this exciting new way to move around the city,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a news release.
