Bicycle Transit Systems is a Philadelphia-based business that specializes in bike share launch, operations, and management. Comprised of the most experienced bike share operations team in the industry, Bicycle Transit Systems manages all operational elements of Indego, including bike and station maintenance, marketing, and customer service.

Our  staff Q & A spotlight series was created to compliment the Indego Street Team and Ambassador spotlight series. These spotlights are an opportunity for you to learn more about the dream team that keeps Indego rolling. From bike mechanics and drivers, to customer service  and marketing, this is a wheel treat to get the inside scoop on the 30+ employees who make up Indego. Meet Kate, an awesome member of our driving and balancing crew!

How long have you been part of the Indego team for?
I’ve been a part of the Indego team since March of this year.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your position!
I’ve been a professional driver since I got my license, taking time to learn everything there is to know about what I call a craft. I can drive various types of vehicles ranging from Army trucks that can haul tanks, to the tanks themselves. I possess a class A license and have even driven cross country hauling goods for the United States, so when I got this job I was definitely excited to be in a local position driving a smaller vehicle and home every night with my family.

How does a normal day look like for you?
There are no normal days at Indego! The day starts off with claiming your truck for the day. We have 3 and I prefer our newest addition Russell. I do an inspection and make sure Russell is in tip top shape before I load the truck up with good batteries for any station swaps and good bikes for balancing. We like to make sure each station has bikes available but some stations get more use than others so we make sure those are full for the morning rush and arrival stations such as 18th and JFK are empty so that riders can dock without issue.

What do you like the most about working at Indego?
I love the environment of the warehouse because of the people I work with. If it makes any sense, we are all diverse yet we all fit a mold because we all like to have fun, we are all easy going light hearted people, and we all work hard to make Indego succeed.

How would you say the system has impacted the city?
The system has brought Philadelphia closer together. The stations are only blocks away from each other tying neighborhoods and communities together.

Any favorite routes?
I don’t have a favorite route because I take different routes all the time so I can improve drive time. Indego is constantly improving and so am I. Although, I do have a favorite station and that is PMA (aka) the Art Museum. Every time I pull up to balance people are so happy and in awe. They are usually tourists and it’s refreshing to see their enthusiasm about the Art Museum steps or the Rocky Statue, and now about our bike share program.
What would you say to anyone that might be hesitant about riding in the city?
I like to think with the help of our presence in Philadelphia, with more bikes on the road, stations popping up in different neighborhoods, even our trucks with flashing lights riding around the city, it has made the people of Philadelphia more aware of bicyclists.

What are you up to outside of Indego?
Outside of Indego I enjoy quality time with my family and friends. My hobbies include working on and racing cars, customizing bikes and taking long rides on Kelly Drive, volunteering my time at the local animal shelters, and as of late, training the new addition to our family, our pitbull puppy Bronx.