Chicago’s plan to give away thousands of bicycles starts out slowly, costs $231,000 so far

In late March, at a luncheon for the city’s political and business elite, Chicago transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi announced the city would be giving away 5,000 bicycles.

“Free bikes. And a helmet. And a bike lock,” Biagi said in her City Club speech.

For months since, the Chicago Department of Transportation has held back key details of the program, but it released a timeline showing the bicycle giveaway will roll out slowly. The 5,000 bikes and accessories will be released over the next four years and at least one-tenth of them will go out in the first year, city officials said.