Chicago's Divvy bike-share program attracts developer

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago's Divvy bike-share program is hoping to expand with the help of property owners who want bicycle stations near their buildings.

The city announced the first such deal on Friday, saying real-estate developer AMLI Residential paid for a Divvy station to be set up outside two of its apartment buildings in the South Loop area.

Chicago Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld says the deal shows that having a Divvy station nearby can be a "real selling point in today's competitive real estate market."

AMLI Vice President Jennifer Wolf says more than 1,000 residents will benefit from the new, 15-dock bike station installed this week.

Chicago's two-year-old bike sharing network now has 4,760 bikes spread over 476 stations, making it one of the largest systems of shared bicycles in the country.