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Divvy Bike Program Raises Questions About Bicycle Safety

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Bicycles have been involved in a disproportionate share of traffic accidents for some time. While those who commute by bicycle understand the dangers of other vehicles on Chicago roads, distracted driving is a growing threat to even very experienced bikers. This raises important safety questions about the Divvy bicycle-sharing program.

The Divvy program has allowed nearly 700,000 bicycle rides in Chicago since it started, and it provides bike rentals year-round in the city. How many of these riders wore a helmet? How many understood the biking laws in Illinois? How any were able to easily and safely navigate the busy Chicago roads? These questions and more underline the need for Alta Bike Share, which owns and operates the Divvy program, to understand safety concerns of the service.

The company is undoubtedly aware of some issues surrounding bicycle accidents, as customers visiting a kiosk are required to agree to a long waiver form before renting a bike. Chicago City Hall also required that Alta indemnify it against lawsuits involving accidents caused by the bicycles. Divvy also offers safety guides to riders who buy an annual membership — but not those who simply buy a day pass.

It’s hard to compare the safety and knowledge of Divvy riders to other bike riders in the city. It’s likely, however, that most people who do not own a bike do not own a helmet. It’s possible that the success of the program has led to to injured pedestrians, car-bicycle collisions and other accidents.

Illinois law does not clearly define the responsibilities of various parties involved in bicycle-sharing programs. Under the law, bicyclists have the same responsibilities and rights as other vehicle operators on the roads, but the responsibilities of the company distributing these bicycles is not so clear.

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