Philly Bike Share Kicks Off!

Say hello to Indego, Philadelphia’s new bike share program! It took seven years for city officials to get it together, making the launch of the bike share a big event indeed. Things kicked off with a big celebration at Eakins Oval. There was a big, excited crowd, cheerleaders, and speeches from city officials including Mayor Michael Nutter. At the close of the event, hundreds of bikers took to the streets in a “ride off” led by Mayor Nutter wearing a pink bicycle tie!

Get on your bike and ride with Indego! Image: PhillyMag.com

Launching Indego was a citywide effort. Six thousand city dwellers participated in public outreach to get the program off the ground, and it was sponsored by Independence Blue Cross. The city invested $3 million in the program, and an additional $13 million came from private, state, and federal funds. The program will bring jobs to the local economy with the maintenance and servicing of the bikes and bike terminals, which is managed by Philadelphia-based Bicycle Transit System. The System set up shop in an old warehouse in Kensington that has been in disuse since the 1980s, which helped bring renewal to its neighborhood. All in all, the bike share marks something that will be great for the city as a whole.

The Indego system features hundreds of blue bikes, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The bikes are housed at kiosks, and are released when riders swipe a credit card. Stations were chosen based on proximity to bike paths, employment centers, and community landmarks. Riders must be 16 years old to use Indego. Bike share passes are available similar to SEPTA plans, with plans available by the day or by the month.