Divvy Expanding in Evanston With 18 New Stations

The City is expanding its Divvy bike-share network with 18 new stations as part of a Cook County-supported project to make Divvy more accessible to the Evanston community. The City has installed 15 of the new stations so far.

The expansion added 6-, 8-, and 12-dock stations throughout new and existing locations in Evanston and shifted several of the city's original 15-dock stations to higher-demand locations. In response to resident requests, Evanston's Divvy bike fleet will include more lower-cost, non-electric Divvy pedal bikes, while the overall fleet will remain the same size.

New stations are located at:

• Bent Park
• Orrington Avenue and Clark Street
• Noyes CTA Station
• Clark Street Beach
• Harbert Payne Park
• Maple Avenue and Grove Street
• Foster CTA Station
• Arrington Lagoon
• Ashland Avenue and Payne Street
• Dempster CTA Station
• Burnham Shores Park
• Dodge Avenue and Lake Street
• Grove Street and Chicago Avenue
• South Boulevard CTA Station
• Sheridan Road and Foster Street
• Beck Park (pending)
• Ryan Field (pending)
• The Evanston Ecology Center (pending)

Early Results: Ridership Climbs 53%

Since new Divvy stations opened in Evanston in late July, the number of trips in Evanston has grown sharply. From August 1 through October 28, riders took 17,543 trips that ended at an Evanston Divvy station, up 53% from the same period last year. Trips rose year-over-year in every month: 44% in August, 33% in September, and 82% in October. Meanwhile, trips ending at Evanston’s 14 original stations held roughly steady compared with 2025, suggesting the new stations are generating new trips rather than pulling riders away from existing locations.

Source: Divvy trip data provided by Lyft. Figures count trips ending at Evanston Divvy stations from August 1 to October 28, 2026, compared with the same dates in 2025, when 14 stations were operating. 

"Divvy has been part of the fabric of Evanston since 2016, and this expansion makes the system more convenient and reliable than ever for residents across the community," said Sean Madison, General Manager of Divvy. "Adding new stations and upgrading existing ones means more people can choose Divvy for everyday trips. We're proud to keep building this partnership with the City of Evanston to make bike share work better for everyone."

A Decade of Growth

Divvy is the bike share system serving Chicago and Evanston, managed by Lyft under contract with the Chicago Department of Transportation and the City of Evanston. Divvy launched in Evanston in June 2016 with 10 stations and 100 bikes, eventually growing to 14 stations. Once the 2026 expansion is complete, Evanston will have 32 stations supporting a fleet of about 130 classic bikes and approximately 100 e-bikes. 

The expansion supports several City-adopted plans that call on Evanston to advance bicycle transportation as part of a safe, high-quality, affordable, and equitable transportation system.

Memberships and Divvy for Everyone

An annual Divvy membership remains the most affordable way to use the system. Community members may sign up for a standard membership ($99/year) or the equity-focused Divvy for Everyone (D4E) membership ($5/year), both of which include unlimited 45-minute rides on classic bikes and reduced per-minute pricing on e-bikes.

The D4E program is available to residents who participate in the Access Evanston program or who receive SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP, or public housing assistance. How you sign up depends on how you qualify:

• Access Evanston participants: Sign up in person at the front desk of any Evanston community center.

• SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP, or public housing recipients: Sign up online through the Divvy website or in person at any Evanston community center.

How to Use the System

Riders can access Divvy by downloading the Divvy app, requesting a fob key with an annual membership, or using the payment kiosks at Evanston's original 14-dock legacy stations. Riders who park outside a docking station will incur a fee ($2 for annual members, $3 for non-members) and must lock bikes to bike racks or other public infrastructure, just as they would a privately-owned bicycle.

Riders ages 16 and older can use Divvy classic bikes and e-bikes to travel within and between Evanston and Chicago. 

Reminder

Bicycling is prohibited on sidewalks in Downtown Evanston, in other posted business districts, and on Ridge Avenue between Howard and Emerson Street. Riders are encouraged to wear helmets while riding a Divvy bike.

Celebratory Ribbon Cutting

To celebrate the completion of the expansion, the City will host a celebratory ribbon-cutting event on Monday, November 16, at 10 a.m., located at the new Divvy Station at the intersection of Grove Street and Maple Avenue, outside of the McGaw YMCA. 

For more information, including about the Divvy Bike Angel program, visit the City's website.