Lyft to Help Expand Bike Share Citywide in Chicago

A sponsorship deal from Lyft, which owns the bike share provider Motivate, would expand Divvy bike service to every ward in Chicago.

1 minute read

March 21, 2019, 6:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Chicago Divvy

Susan Montgomery / Shutterstock

The new Divvy contract may dramatically increase the reach of the service. "Under the proposed amendment, Lyft would expand the system to all 50 wards by 2021, adding 10,500 bikes and 175 stations. That would bring the total to about 16,500 bikes and 800 stations," writes John Greenfield. To achieve the expansion, Lyft would make a financial investment of $50 million. Currently, Divvy service is available in the city center and many, but not all, of the city's neighborhoods­, meaning riders cannot drop of bikes in all of the city’s neighborhoods.

Beyond the expansion of service, the deal would also restructure the financial aspects of the service. "Additionally, the city asserts, the amendment would restructure the financial terms of the contract to 'dramatically' increase annual guaranteed revenues and reduce financial risk to the city," Greenfield reports. Divvy profits would go back to Divvy and the city would be paid an agreed-upon rate each year, and in exchange the city would receive a fixed amount of funding that it could budget against.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019 in Streetsblog Chicago

Chicago Intercity Rail

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects

Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

September 25, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Google maps street view of San Francisco alleyway.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’

A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

September 26, 2023 - Fast Company

Google street view of yellow "End Freeway 1/4 mile" sign on 90 freeway in Los Angeles, California.

Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing

A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.

September 26, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Report: Bike Lanes Can't Make up for New Roads

If California wants to meet its climate goals, the state must stop funding its myriad road construction and expansion projects.

3 hours ago - Streetsblog California

Late evening view of downtown Minneapolis skyline with stone bridge in foreground

Minneapolis Affordable Housing Project Largest in 20 Years

The city opened its first large multifamily affordable housing complex in decades, but a recent court ruling against the Minneapolis 2040 rezoning plan could jeopardize future projects.

4 hours ago - Minnesota Public Radio

Close-up of vertical PARK sign on multistory urban parking garage.

NYC Mayor Proposes Eliminating Parking Minimums

Mayor Adams wants to stop requiring off-site parking for new buildings to reduce the costs of construction as part of the ‘City of Yes’ package of zoning reforms.

5 hours ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.