The Apps

There are a few apps available that can be used to help you find Divvy stations, among other information.  These are all third-party apps.  On Divvy's facebook page, Divvy recommends using the CycleFinder app.  I have used this app as well as another app called CHI Bikes.  There are a couple other apps as well.  Based on my limited experience and reading reviews of these apps, they don't work perfectly.  Both CycleFinder and CHI Bikes will show you where stations are located (including relative to where you are) and how many bikes are available at any given station as well as how many empty docks there are at each station.  However, the information isn't always available or accurate.  About half the time I have tried to use the CHI Bikes app, it works for finding stations but simply shows a question mark for the other information.  CycleFinder seems to always display the bikes and docks available but less accurately.  Sometimes when I walk by a station I'll look at how many bikes and docks are available and pull up both of the apps.  When CHI Bikes shows the information it has been accurate whereas CycleFinder has been off by at least a few bikes. 

Personally, I also like the interface better at CHI Bikes.  CycleFinder requires you to toggle back and forth to see bikes or docks available, whereas CHI Bikes shows both at all times. 

One point of criticism on the Divvy system is that they do not make it easy to get this information at the stations.  While you can see other stations on a little map at each station, it would be great if the kiosk would offer information on where the closest station is with available docks and/or bikes.  After all, a lot of people are going to try Divvy once or a couple times -- those are the people who won't have bothered to get the app or even know it exists.

If you do get to a station and see that all the docks or full or all the bikes are gone, you can call the Divvy customer service number (855-55-DIVVY) and they are able to tell you where close by empty docks and bikes are located.