The lakefront is Chicago's front yard — and this summer, more people are using Divvy to get there than ever before.
Five new Divvy stations recently opened along the lakefront:
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive & Jackson Drive
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive & Balbo Drive
- North Avenue Beach
- North Avenue Beach Pedestrian Bridge
- Lincoln Park Zoo
Alongside this station expansion, we're also piloting a new approach to parking, so that more riders doesn't mean more clutter along the Lakefront Trail. Here's a closer look at how it'll work.
Why we're doing this
Anyone who bikes, walks, or runs along the lakefront has probably noticed it can get crowded. So in coordination with CDOT and the Chicago Park District, we're piloting a new parking approach from the North Avenue Beach Pedestrian Bridge on the North to Navy Pier on the South. This stretch sees some of the highest ridership anywhere in the Divvy system, so it's exactly where more parking options make the biggest difference — stations, overflow corrals, and public racks working together mean more places to end a ride and pick up the next one, right where that matters most.
How it works
This stretch will become a No Parking Zone, with specific cutouts for where you can end your ride. Riders will be required to park in one of three places:
- A Divvy station
- An overflow corral — areas directly adjacent to Lakefront Trail-side stations, for use when the adjacent-station is full or approaching full.
- A designated public rack — a public bike rack specifically marked in the app as an approved spot to end a Divvy ride.
On ebikes, the on-bike screen will prompt you to check the app when you're in the No Parking Zone. From there, the app has everything you need to find proper parking: a clear on-map zone, plus banners and alerts instructing you to find the nearest parking option.
A phased rollout
We're easing into this. For the first few weeks, starting August 3rd, this will run as an advisory period. Everything will look and feel similar to the final version — the same zone and map, with in-app guidance noting it's part of the advisory period — but no fees will be issued. It's a chance for riders to get familiar with the new parking areas before anything's enforced.
After that, the zone becomes fully active: riders who end a ride outside of a station, overflow corral, or public rack in this stretch may be charged a parking violation fee.
To help riders adjust, we're also bringing in extra hands: valet support will be on-site at North Avenue Beach every weeknight and weekend through the summer, along with roaming crews keeping bikes tidy throughout the pilot zone.
More stations where people are riding, and smarter parking that keeps our shared spaces clear for everyone — that's the goal every time Divvy grows.
Look for updates on the advisory period and full rollout dates in the Divvy app and on our social channels.