Community Corner
North Center Snubbed on First Launch of Bike Share Kiosks
The neighborhood will be home to a slew of new bike sharing locations, but not right away. Just 75 locations were chosen in the city for the June launch date, and North Center will be home to none of them.
Chicago will soon launch its new Divvy bike-sharing program by introducing just 75 bike kiosks in the city, but North Center might have to wait longer than expected.
The Chicago Department of Transportation debuted the new Chicago-blue Divvy Bikes over Memorial Day weekend at the annual Bike the Drive event along Lake Shore Drive.
Along with showing off the new cycles to bike lovers, CDOT also revealed an official map of where every bike sharing station will be in the city. On June 14—during annual Bike to Work Week—the organization will open a select few locations at high-trafficked areas like Millennium Park and Navy Pier, with plans to slowly implement the remaining 325 over time.
When completed, Chicago will have 4,000 bike sharing kiosks at 400 locations.
While North Center won't be home to any Divvy Bike stations on June 14, organizers do plan to place seven kiosks in the neighborhood over time. They include:
- Diversey Parkway and Clybourn Avenue - 19 bike docks
- Damen Avenue and Wellington Street - 15 bike docks
- Damen Avenue and Melrose Street - 11 docks
- Damen Avenue and Roscoe Street - 11 bike docks
- Ravenswood Avenue and Addison Street - 19 bike docks
- Wolcott Street and Grace Street - 15 bike docks
- Damen Avenue and Bell Plaine Avenue - 19 bike docks
Starting Wednesday, residents can now purchase a $75 yearly memberships or $7 daily passes, which will allow for unlimited trips up to 30 minutes each. Annual members are able to enroll online at www.divvybikes.com and receive a personal key used to quickly unlock bikes from any station.
“Bike sharing is another large step we’re taking to make Chicago the best big city in America for cycling,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “We are improving our bicycling infrastructure to create the quality of life that will attract businesses and families to Chicago. Divvy bikes will provide Chicagoans and visitors with more options for getting around our neighborhoods.”
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