June 06, 2017
April marked the two-year anniversary of Philly’s bike-share program, Indego, and with the milestone comes several big announcements for the system, sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
When the program was rolled out in 2015, Indego got attention for its attempts at making bike sharing a more equitable hobby across the city. Users don't need a smartphone or even a credit card to rent a bike, and Indego kiosks were mindfully placed in neighborhoods beyond the confines of Center City. Waiting until 2015 to unveil a bike-share program – when cities like Boston, New York and Washington D.C. had them for years – also gave Philly the chance to learn from other cities’ past mistakes.
To commemorate two years as a bike-share city, Indego announced 14 new locations where Indego racks will be installed this month. Check out the list below:
• Grays Ferry & Pemberton
• 40th & Woodland, Trolley Portal
• 38th & Spruce
• 38th & Market
• 30th Street Station East
• 20th & Market
• 12th & Callowhill
• Thompson & Palmer, Adaire School
• Frankford & Master, Lutheran Settlement House
• Eighth & Mifflin, Bok Building
• 15th & Castle, DiSilvestro Playground
• Passyunk & Broad
• 27th & Schuylkill, CHOP
• 25th & Locust
Indego also released a report to commemorate its two-year mark, highlighting its various efforts to be accessible to a range of ethnicities and income levels. Though the majority of Indego users are still white – 67 percent in 2015 and 55 percent in 2016 – riders across different races have increased, including the percent of black Indego riders jumping from 8 percent in 2015 to 19 percent in 2016.
The report also noted that 10 percent of all trips since April 2016 – 1,090 – were used by riders with a PA Access card, making them eligible for a discounted monthly Indego pass.
Throughout the summer, Indego also hosts classes for new bike riders, including courses covering street safety and adult riding lessons.
