Chicago’s bike-share system continues to expand and the goal of covering the entire city is within reach, officials said Thursday.
“By this time next year, the entire city will have access to bike share,” transportation commissioner Gia Biagi said at a Lawndale news conference announcing several new charging stations, including some for Divvy’s newer electic-assist bikes. “No city in the country in our class has that kind of access to bike share.”
In all, eight new Divvy docking station will be installed in the West Side neighborhood.
“We will have hundreds of bikes that our community members can get on and get to transit, get to their neighbor’s house, get to a park — or come to my office.” said Ald. Michael Scott (24th). “We actually have one right across the street from my office.”
The news conference was at Douglass Boulevard and Central Park Avenue, where a new Divvy docking station for its electric-assist bikes is now located. It’s one of 107 new docking stations being installed on the Southwest and Northwest sides.
“Bike share has been an incredible asset to our city over the last couple of years, but especially during the pandemic,” Biagi said. “We’re making it bigger and we’re making it better.”
Displayed at the news conference was a map showing plans for new bike lanes throughout North Lawndale. The city’s Chicago Works infrastructure program includes $17 million for new bikeways this year and next.
“It’s not enough to add bikes, right? You need to add the infrastructure,” Biagi said. “Sure, please, ride to work. But I want you to also ride to the park. I want you to ride to the grocery store. I want you to ride to your neighbor’s house.”
Divvy set a monthly record in June, with 699,720 rides, according to Biagi. That included a single-day record of 36,347 rides on Saturday, June 5.
