Blue Cross Blue Shield Invest $12.5 Million into Divvy bikes

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, May 7, 2014

As part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois’ exclusive sponsorship agreement, Divvy bikes and vans in Chicago will soon sport an updated design with the Blue Cross Blue Shield logos.
As part of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois’ exclusive sponsorship agreement, Divvy bikes and vans in Chicago will soon sport an updated design with the Blue Cross Blue Shield logos.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has committed to a $12.5 million, five-year sponsorship investment to support the Divvy bike share program.

“Our partnership with Blue Cross helps us to expand the bike share system, improve and maintain bike lanes and encourage cycling in all neighborhoods across Chicago,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “This investment from Blue Cross will help us continue to encourage Chicagoans to get around this great city in more active ways.”

Divvy bikes are provided by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) where bikes are rented to users for 30 minute intervals. Bikes are then returned to one of the network of docking stations located within the city. Divvy has 3,000 bikes available for rent which are distributed amongst its 300 stations. The company announced expansion plans into the city’s south, west and north sides earlier this year.

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“Our partnership with Blue Cross helps us to expand the bike share system, improve and maintain bike lanes and encourage cycling in all neighborhoods across Chicago. This investment from Blue Cross will help us continue to encourage Chicagoans to get around this great city in more active ways.” - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

As part of BCBSIL’s exclusive system sponsorship agreement, Divvy bikes and vans across the city will soon sport an updated design with the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois logos showcasing the partnership. The City and Divvy will also partner with BCBSIL to promote active transportation choices, like bike sharing, and how these activities can lead to improved health and wellness.

“Rarely do you have an opportunity to improve public health, protect our environment and boost productivity for individuals and businesses in a single, effective way,” said Karen Atwood, President of BCBSIL. “As the state’s largest health insurer, we are committed to fostering healthy, active lifestyles, and our support of the Divvy program is directly in keeping with that philosophy.”

The City plans to leverage the additional $2.5 million in annual funds from BCBSIL to not only expand the Divvy system, but also help provide a number of things that will benefit cycling in neighborhoods across Chicago, including:

Securing additional bike lane sweeping and snow removal equipment

Funding more bike lane materials like bollards, signage and striping

Employing more bike ambassadors to educate Chicagoans about bike safety

Developing and printing new bike route maps

Recent government and private studies show that biking just two to three miles per day can provide substantial health benefits, and cities with such bike sharing programs are shown to have lowered their obesity rates.

In Chicago, the Divvy program has become extraordinarily popular for both commuters and recreational riders alike. Since Divvy launched in late June 2013, bicyclists have taken more than one million trips, riding more than 2.25 million miles, and collectively burning an estimated 100 million calories.

In addition to the $2.5 million annual financial support it is providing, Blue Cross will promote the Divvy program to its Chicago area employees, who will receive a $30 corporate annual membership rate as a way to encourage participation. The City is also working with BCBSIL to develop a discount program for annual membership for all of its insurance customers later this year.

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