Evanston is the second most popular city in the Midwest for commuting by bike, according to a new report by the League of American Bicyclists.
The Washington, D.C.-based group found 5.3 percent of Evanston residents were bike commuters in 2012. In the Midwest, Evanston trails only Madison, Wis., where 8,300 residents — 6.2 percent of its population — commute by bike.
The report, titled “Where We Ride: An Analysis of Bicycling in American Cities,” was released Monday.
Nationally, Evanston ranked 15th for the percentage of its population that represents bike commuters. Davis, Calif., topped the list with nearly 1 in 5 residents riding their bikes to and from work in 2012.
Evanston’s bicycle culture will likely receive a major boost if Divvy expands outside Chicago. The bicycle-sharing service is looking to open eight stations in Evanston next year.
— Patrick Svitek
