In mid-July, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) installed the first of 66 new Divvy stations and the addition of thousands of ebikes that will expand the bike sharing network by almost 60 square miles through Chicago’s Far South Side, including the 19th Ward. Installation of local stations will begin in mid-August.
City officials were joined by community stakeholders and transportation advocates for the installation of the first new station at 83rd and Stewart Avenue in the 21st Ward. The new station locations are the product of extensive community consultation with local aldermen and advocates.
BAPA has actively represented the Beverly/Morgan Park community at a series of meetings and conversations about Divvy expansion to the neighborhood. In 2017, BAPA collected more than 2,000 signatures on a petition to bring DIVVY to the community, and BAPA also supported the very successful bike sharing pilot program in the community two summers ago.
“Neighborhood residents have been asking for Divvy bikes since the bike sharing program first came to Chicago in 2013,” said BAPA Executive Director Mary Jo Viero. “The installation of local Divvy stations is a perfect addition to BAPA’s new Bike Beverly initiative promoting a more bike-friendly, less vehicle-dependent community.”
In the 19th Ward, 11 Divvy stations are planned as part of the Phase 1 expansion, with locations near Metra train stations, parks and other busy areas. E-stations, which provide e-bike charging, are planned in North Beverly and Mount Greenwood. The new e–bikes will make cycling easier with pedal-assist technology and they can be parked at Divvy stations and at public bike racks using a built-in cable lock.
The stations in the original system and in the expansion are targeted around transit stops and stations to increase neighborhood connectivity and increasing the reach of public transportation. Far South Side community feedback showed great interest in Divvy as a health and recreation resource, influencing planners to focus on parks and trails as well.
The annual Divvy membership costs $99 and allows an unlimited number of rides of 45 minutes or less. The Divvy for Everyone program provides heavily discounted, $5 annual memberships for qualifying Chicagoans, including those without a credit or debit cards.
The expansion is the first phase of a program that will bring Divvy to every Chicago neighborhood by 2021. Find more info and membership info at divvybikes.com.
