Chicago City Wire

Chicago – The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Lyft, the operator of the Divvy bikeshare system, today joined 31st Ward Alderman Felix Cardona Jr. and Belmont Cragin community leaders to cut the ribbon on a new Divvy station and celebrate the first of hundreds of new stations that will be installed in Chicago over the next couple years. Earlier this year, Divvy expanded its service area to all 50 wards and today’s launch of new stations will continue to increase bikeshare access, particularly on the Northwest, Southwest, Far South Sides. Divvy is also in the process of adding nearly 3,000 new classic bikes to the fleet to ensure users have a healthy balance of ebikes and classic pedal bikes.     

“The addition of new stations and bikes will ensure that Divvy not only serves the entire City, but gives residents more equitable access to both classic bikes and ebikes,” said Acting CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney. “The growth of Divvy complements the rapid growth of Chicago’s bike network, making getting around by bike a safe and convenient way for more people.”

 

“Since Divvy came to Belmont Cragin two years ago, we’ve seen strong community support and steady ridership growth,” said Cara Bader, Senior Policy Manager for Transit, Bikes and Scooters at Lyft. “These new docking stations will bring classic pedal bikes to the neighborhood and increased certainty on where to find a bike,  allowing even more options for residents to choose Divvy for their daily urban transportation needs.”

Divvy will add more than 250 stations by 2025, which will:  

• Increase the density of stations in neighborhoods previously served by Divvy; and 
• Expand the docking station footprint to communities that previously did have docking stations.  

 

Most importantly, the addition of traditional Divvy stations will allow residents to choose their preferred device, be it a classic bike or an ebike. When complete, this expansion will improve Divvy access citywide, providing high-quality, organized, dedicated parking infrastructure as well as access to both ebikes and classic pedal bikes in every neighborhood.   Divvy is the largest bikeshare system in North America by geographic area served and continues to be immensely popular with Chicago residents and visitors:  

• In 2022, Divvy hit a record high of more than 5.6 million bike trips, over 60 percent higher than 2019, and is on pace to break that record again in 2023.  
• The Divvy system hit a milestone of 40 million total lifetime trips in July 2023. 
• The Divvy 4 Everyone (D4E) reduced fare membership program has more than quadrupled since 2021. D4E provides low-cost access with $5 annual membership and lower per-minute fees for e-devices (scooters and bikes).  

 

“I want to thank the Chicago Department of Transportation, Lyft, Divvy, and those here today. I remember as a youth, to ride a bike, you had to own one. As I rode, I rode at my own risk because I either rode on the sidewalk or the street unprotected because there were no bikeways,” said 31st Ward Alderman Felix Cardona Jr. “Fast forward to today, everyone has an opportunity to ride. Bike riding and bike sharing is more than an activity; it is a necessary mode of transportation as residents commute to and from their place of employment. In Belmont- Cragin and Hermosa, we have made it safer by building a bike infrastructure and have provided more than 17 miles of bikeways since 2021. We continue the progress as we launch a new Divvy station outside of Ken-Well Park and give residents more options to choose their preferred device, be a classic pedal bike or an ebike. Let us continue to move forward and build together as a community.”

 

“Our community rides for pleasure but most of the rides are essential – the grocery store, school, church, you name it,” said Jeremy Cuebas, Transportation Organizer, Northwest Center. “We ride because sometimes we have no choice. Now that classic stations are coming to Belmont Cragin it will be possible for more residents to get around at a low cost.”

 

This boom in cycling coincides with Chicago’s rapid expansion of low-stress bikeways, making cycling a safe and comfortable option for more people of all ages and abilities. This spring, CDOT released the Chicago Cycling Strategy, outlining its community-driven approach to expanding Chicago’s bike network and creating a more equitable, safe, and inviting city for cycling.  

Original source can be found here.