North Cook News

According to City of Evanston records obtained by North Cook News, its Divvy bike-sharing program generated $115,217 in revenue over its first 18 months of operation, or $6,400 per month. 

Evanston taxpayers have paid Motivate International, which operates the Divvy bicycle-sharing program, $356,448 in fees over the period, a net loss of $241,231.

Evanston agreed on Jan. 23 to extend its partnership with Motivate for another year, with an option to extend it further.

Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty

Divvy bikes were available in Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park in 2017.

Oak Park cancelled its partnership with Motivate last month, citing low ridership and a lack of profitability.

Motivate charged Oak Park $26,665 per month for 13 stations and 207 bike docks, or $319,980 per year. 

That's more than Evanston, which has 11 stations and 165 bike docks, and pays $21,285 per month.

Evanston's high revenue month was July 2014, in which it generated $14,703. It lost $170,125 in 2017 – about what Oak Park projected it would lose in 2018.

According to Evanston's agreement with Motivate, Divvy bikes cost $1,115 each.

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Evanston's Divvy Bike-Sharing Program by the numbers

		Stations	Bikes	Divvy Fees & Expenses	Divvy Revenue	Profit/Loss
2016	June	0.13	2	$258	$1,453	$1,196
	July	9.39	140.81	$18,165	$13,282	-$4,883
	Aug	10	150	$19,350	$8,520	-$10,830
	Sept	10	150	$19,350	$9,597	-$9,753
	Oct	10	150	$19,350	$6,898	-$12,452
	Nov	10	150	$19,350	$3,436	-$15,914
	Dec	10	150	$19,350	$880	-$18,470
2017	Jan	10	150	$19,350	$1,715	-$17,635
	Feb	10	150	$19,350	$2,279	-$17,071
	Mar	10	150	$19,350	$1,903	-$17,447
	Apr	10	150	$19,350	$5,276	-$14,074
	May	10	150	$19,350	$8,900	-$10,450
	June	10	150	$19,350	$7,634	-$11,717
	July	10	150	$18,751	$14,703	-$4,048
	Aug	11	165	$21,285	$12,059	-$9,226
	Sept	11	165	$21,285	$9,966	-$11,319
	Oct	11	165	$21,285	$3,912	-$17,373
	Nov	11	165	$21,285	$1,642	-$19,643
	Dec	11	165	$21,285	$1,163	-$20,122
	TOTAL EXPENSE			$356,448	$115,217	-$241,231

Source: City of Evanston