Chicago

The company says that Chicago's policy of capping wheel-lock-only bikes at 50 per company while allowing up to 350 lock-to cycles "picks winners and losers."

Last week Pace, one of Chicago’s four dockless bike-share vendors, announced that they will be installing 25 “mobility parking platforms” on private property within Chicago’s Far South Side DoBi pilot area. In plain English, they’re talking about fairly conventional-looking bike parking racks (although one end of the rack has a hole in it to facilitate locking Pace bikes via their built–in cable locks.) But the company is promoting the fixtures as being available for parking any company’s dockless bikes, as well as dockless electric scooters and personal cycles. Pace has gotten permission from institutions and businesses such as Chicago State University in Roseland and Open Outcry Brewing in Beverly to install the fixtures on their property.

Video clips show the advantages of choosing low-stress side street itineraries over main street biking streets.

The test has been extended until September, but service hours are still limited.

In a surprise announcement, the department is relaxing the strict rules of the pilot.

There Are Only 350 Cycles Now, and That Could Drop to 250 After This Saturday.

After this Sunday, wheel-lock-only dockless bike-share cycles will be banned.

The first step is a six-month study to recommend the best approach, intially focusing on Western, Ashland, Chicago Avenue and 79th Street.

It's available in print in this week's Chicago Reader and online as a smartphone-friendly Google Map.