Community Corner

Lake View Getting 28 Kiosks in Chicago's New Bike Share Program

Chicago's bike sharing program is moving forward, and locations for a third of the bike kiosks have already been decided. Officials say it should be in working order by June.

Lake View will soon be scattered with 28 new bike sharing stations, and local officials have already set their sights on a number of locations they plan to install them.

Sougata Deb, Ald. Tom Tunney’s (44th) director of infrastructure and special projects, confirmed Chicago’s bike sharing program is again moving full steam ahead. He says with the funding finally approved, it’s time to choose where to place the bike kiosks.

“We are moving forward with the bike sharing program,” Deb said. “We got the federal funding, and while we have to match some of it, a majority is from a federal grant. We haven’t approved all the locations yet, but we’re getting 28 stations. Most of them will have 15 to 19 bikes each.”

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Locations already identified to receive the bike sharing kiosks are:

  • Wrigley Field
  • Every CTA train station
  • Corners of Lincoln, Belmont and Ashland avenues
  • Corners of Clark Street, Broadway and Diversey Parkway
  • Corner of Wellington Avenue and Lake Shore Drive
  • Corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue
  • Corner of Southport and Waveland avenues

Equally as important as the bike stations locations is the deadline. Deb says the ward is on track to install all 28 kiosks by June this year, meaning they have little time to decide where the other stations will go.

Find out what's happening in Lakeviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The locations already chosen to receive the new bikes, issued by Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share, were selected for a variety of reasons like foot traffic, but also by space. Deb says they’re hoping to avoid replacing parking spaces with bike stations.

“We’re trying to figure out how to go about choosing the right locations,” Deb said. “The ones planned next to the train stops don’t allow parking anyway. We don’t want to take a business’ loading zone, and we know how sensitive parking is.”

“If you’re a biker, it’s a good time to be in Lake View. We’re very excited, and Tom is more than happy about it all.”

For example, the kiosk near the corner of Wellington Avenue and Lake Shore Drive will be put on the Chicago Park District’s grass, Deb says. They plan to talk with any buisness that may be affected by a new station before installing one.

Chicago is hoping to add 3,000 bikes in the sharing program, with plans to increase that number to 4,000 by 2014. Riders can buy a one-day pass for $7, or a yearly pass for $75. The first 30 minutes of every ride is free, followed by a $1.50 surcharge for an extra 30 minutes.

Deb says now it’s time to focus on his other project: transforming School Street into a two-way biking greenway. A plan to present the idea to neighborhood groups is slated to start next month.

“The bike stations will be great, because then we can focus on the greenway, which we are getting plans together for,” Deb said. “If you’re a biker, it’s a good time to be in Lake View. We’re very excited, and Tom is more than happy about it all.”

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