Divvy delay: riders will wait until June 28 to ride bike share

I was chomping at the bit to use my new Divvy bike share membership later this week, but the city just announced it needs two more weeks to test the system and have it ready to roll.

Divvy still plans to meet its goal of 75 stations in place by the end of the month, but we’ll wait two more weeks to use the system. The city will roll out the first docking station at the bike rally on Friday at Daley Plaza, with about eight more installed each day until the system goes live June 28.

This is a major new transportation system that will be around for many years, and I would rather the city delay a couple of weeks than risk a sub-par service that could turn people away from bike sharing.

Other bike-sharing programs have had problems initially (most recently New York City), so the delay is not surprising, but it is disappointing for all of us would-be Divvy riders.

This is sort of like the grand opening for the latest, coolest coaster at the amusement park, and the line just got a little longer. But I still can’t wait to ride.