After a competitive application process, Spin was invited back to serve the residents of the Windy City for a four-month pilot.
This time, Chicago riders will be able to find us in pretty much any part of the city with an expanded service area all the way to the Chicago O’Hare Airport and a starting fleet of 1,000 scooters (eventually increasing to more than 3,000). Our scooters will be located primarily outside of downtown, with a focus on filling in transportation gaps and better connecting those that do not have access to safe mobility options. Part of this will be supported through Spin’s Access program which allows Chicago residents that receive public benefits access to a 50 percent discount on their trips.
To serve and support the Chicago metro area the best we can, we have committed to hiring many local Chicagoans and partnering with local workforce groups like the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. By the end of August, we plan to hire around 60 W-2 employees — including many who worked with us during last year’s pilot.
Throughout the country, Spin has helped our riders carry out essential errands or commute to jobs in healthcare, at grocery stores, and other essential industries. We’ve been proud to offer our riders an open-air option to get around during these unprecedented circumstances. We can’t wait to get started!
What’s New
In every city where we operate, we have implemented rigorous scooter cleaning and employee safety protocols to ensure that Spin scooters remain safe to use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chicago, of course, will be no exception.
We recognize many newcomers will be interested in taking a Spin. To strengthen our efforts to teach riders how to be safe on the road, we’ve launched Spin Safe Digital, an online education resource for riders, and we will require all riders to take a brief quiz before their first ride in Chicago.
Finding the ‘New Normal’ with Spin and Stan’s Donuts
This Saturday, August 15, we’ll be partnering with Stan’s Donuts to safely bring riders — both new and old — together at three of its locations starting at 10 a.m. until supplies last:
- Wicker Park — 1560 N Damen Ave
- Lakeview — Broadway St — 3300 N Broadway St.
- Lakeview — Clark St — 2800 N Clark St.
Every Spin rider who stops by one of the participating Stan’s Donuts locations and shows us their Spin account will get a special Spin donut. Spin will offer free promotions, hand sanitizer and masks.
It’ll be a chance to learn how Spin is committed to helping the communities we serve on the road to recovery as we all figure out how to navigate the new normal and beyond.
To celebrate our return to the Windy City with locals, we’re also offering a $5 promo code for all new riders (visit the Spin App for more details). Scooters will also be free to unlock for the first week (August 12th to August 18th).
