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Evanston approves Divvy expansion; staff says no Divvy scooters included now and scooter rules require separate ordinance
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Summary
The committee approved amendments to expand Evanston’s Divvy network with Lift (Lyft). Staff said the agreement adds roughly 17 new stations and increases dock capacity and that the vehicle mix will shift to more classic bikes; the agreement does not add Divvy scooters now (0 scooters) and staff will draft scooter regulations separately.
The Administration & Public Works Committee approved amendments to the Evanston Bikeshare program with Lift Bikes and Scooters LLC (Divvy) and a single-source contract for system expansion.
Miss Fierrito, presenting for staff, said the city will substantially increase station count and docking capacity to make the network more accessible while aiming to control the number of vehicles on the road. She said the plan adds 17 new stations (in some cases small stations of 6–12 docks) and in total will lead to roughly 28–31 new stations with additional docking points and about 220 vehicles on the road under the new minimums. The contract sets new minimums with Lyft and increases the proportion of classic bicycles relative to e-bikes: staff described a target of roughly 100 classic bikes and about 90 e-bikes (roughly 190–220 total vehicles depending on configuration).
Fierrito and council members emphasized safety and signage; she showed a pilot sidewalk sign for downtown that will be tested in spring and discussed ADA and placement considerations. Importantly, staff said the current amendment and contract do not include any Divvy scooters — zero Divvy scooters will be purchased or required under this agreement. Cook County’s Investing Cook grant (which staff said funds 50% of the retrofit work) will pay to retrofit some docking stations so scooters could be piloted later if the city chooses; separate ordinance drafting and rules would be required before Divvy scooters are authorized in Evanston.
Council members asked about private scooters and enforcement; staff said privately owned scooters can continue to be used under existing state rules and that city code does not yet define scooters; ordinance drafting is underway but paused while staff prioritize other warm-season preparations. The committee approved the bikeshare amendment and single-source contract on a roll call vote.
