dockless bike share survey

We're at the end of the 6 month dockless bike share pilot program.  CDOT is now evaluating ridership data and public feedback.

Have you been using dockless bike share? Want to share your thoughts about it?

CDOT has put out a survey asking for your feedback on the program. Click here to take it.

If you've found dockless bike share (Jump, Lime and Pace) useful and would like to see it available here in the future, please say so in your survey comments. Many of us have enjoyed having this flexible transportation option.

Terrain Fest and Artist Studio Tours on Sun. 9/23

Come out for Terrain Fest on Sunday afternoon 9/23 from 2:00-4:30 pm. It's happening at 95th and Hamilton in conjunction with Beverly Art Walk artist studio tours.

We'll have art and reading activities for kids, music, kids' bike safety demo and more. Representatives from the dockless bike share companies will be there. If you have questions about dockless bike share, you can ask a rep.

If you are interested in seeing bike routes developed in the 19th ward, come out and see a map of proposed ideas and do a survey to let CDOT know where you want bike routes. 

Parents - bring your kids with their bikes and helmets to learn about riding smart and safe.

Thanks to Beverly Bike & Ski, we will have a bike safety check. Stop by and get it checked out.

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Here's more info about the Artist Studio Tours happening from noon to 5:00 pm on the same date. We highly recommend biking between studios.

Artist Line-Up: (from North to South, 90th to 111th)
Dalton Brown - 9036 S Oakley
Brian Ritchard - 9419 S Leavitt
Jomo Cheatham - 95th and Hoyne
Charlette Hein - 9737 S Hoyne

Sandra Leonard, John Colson, Audrius Pliopylis and
Jean Vanier- Trinity Church, 99th and Winchester
Raymond Broady and Brendan McAlinden - 10357 S. Hamilton
Judie Anderson, 10632 S. Hoyne
Pat Egan, Kathy Figel and Karen Doubek - Art From The Heart studio, 2266 W. 109th
Dan McCabe - 2213 W. 109th St.
Tom Olsen and Jack Denst - 11112 S. Hoyne

Studio Tour After-Party 5-7 pm at the beautiful Wild Blossom Meadery (9030 S. Hermitage Ave.)

and then there were 5, no make that 4, dockless bike share companies

If you've been following bike share in the area in recent weeks, you may have noticed a few changes. For several weeks, we had bikes available from LimeBike, Pace and Ofo. Jump and HOPR/Bike and Roll got into the mix - making a total of 5 brands of dockless bikes, each with its own app and slightly different terms.

Due to the city sticking to its low mandated limits on the number of bikes the company could put out on the streets, Ofo picked up its bikes and went home. Meanwhile LimeBike, which has the same low mandated limit of 50 bikes, is still pushing to stay.

Jump bike

Jump started putting its bikes out on the streets just over a week ago, increasing to 350 bikes in the coming weeks.

Also, Pace is looking for locations to install its own racks, which can be used with their bikes or other bikes. They're increasing the number of their bikes available from 250 to 350, under the terms of the city's pilot program.

Pace bike rack

Things are definitely getting interesting.  I'm curious to see what the big picture looks like for dockless bike share in Chicago when November comes around.

dockless bike share update

Things have really been in flux in the last week. At first, it looked like the city would hold firm on the lock-to requirement and we would lose LimeBike and Ofo starting tomorrow.

I wrote to our alderman and CDOT, asking that they reconsider this, because so many potential destinations in the ward (especially on residential blocks) lack suitable fixed objects to which one could lock a bike at the end of their trips.

The point has been raised that the low number of bikes for such a large service area (the city south of 79th St. and east of the Skyway) was not sufficient for an effective pilot program.  I agree with that point. When bikes are equitably distributed so that neighborhoods through the service area have bikes in them, there aren't a lot of bikes to go around.

It's been a game of chicken between the city, LimeBike and Ofo going back and forth on the question of whether LimeBike and Ofo bikes without lock-to capability would remain in the service area until the 11/1 end of the pilot program.

Pace bikes is offering bike racks for installation on private property. I've heard that a few neighborhood businesses will be getting the racks soon, so there will be more bike parking available for both dockless bikes and personal bikes.

In the last few days, we've gotten some encouraging news. Jump, an e-assist bike with lock-to capability, will be launching here on Monday, so we will have another dockless option. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County also has its own dockless bike share program available in Dan Ryan Woods, Whistler Woods, and several other locations (including the Botanic Garden).

Today's news: the city is increasing the cap on the number of bikes with lock-to capability and allowing LimeBike and Ofo to stay. I'm curious to see how the big picture evolves between now and 11/1. Stay tuned...