In June, the City of Philadelphia announced that Bicycle Transit Systems had been awarded a ten-year concessionaire contract to continue operating the Indego bike share system.

Bicycle Transit Systems is a Philadelphia based company which has been responsible for building and operating the Indego bike share program over the past five years. Bicycle Transit Systems has helped Indego expand from 60 stations and 600 bicycles to more than 140 stations and 1,400 bicycles, including the introduction of electric bikes in 2019. Since launch, more than four million rides have been taken on Indego.

Over the past five years, Bicycle Transit Systems has worked closely with the City of Philadelphia as a ‘living laboratory’ for the Better Bike Share Partnership (BBSP), a national initiative focused on creating equity in bike share and shared micro-mobility. This work is poised to continue and expand alongside the Indego program.   

“Bicycle Transit Systems has proven that they share the City’s values for mobility, sustainability, and equity, and we’re thrilled that they will continue operating and growing Indego for the next ten years,” said Deputy Managing Director for Transportation Mike Carroll of the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability, which manages the Indego program for the City. “We thank all of our partners, including members of City Council, whose approval of the new contract was crucial to moving forward.”

“As title sponsor since its inception, Independence is proud to continue our partnership with Indego − one of the most accessible, equitable, and inclusive bike share programs in America,” said Daniel J. Hilferty, Independence Blue Cross President and CEO. “Indego has given tens of thousands of people access to a healthy and fun way to travel through the city. The program’s expansion under Bicycle Transit Systems will allow more people to take advantage of this fantastic resource.”

The new contract, which starts in January, was approved by City Council based on the strength of Bicycle Transit Systems’ application and their excellent track record of running Indego. In this blog, Indego will share more details about the expansion and how to get involved!

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The Indego team is beginning to plan for system expansion in 2021, with plans to more than double in size by 2025. To help in this effort Indego is seeking support from key community members to serve as Indego Expansion Liaisons for the upcoming expansion of the program. 

Indego Expansion Liaisons will serve as advisers to help engage West Philadelphia (ex. Walnut Hill, Garden Court, Cedar Park, Mill Creek) and parts of South Philadelphia (ex. Point Breeze, Gray’s Ferry, Mifflin Square). Liaisons will help create a space for community voices to be heard and introduce bike share as an equitable, high quality, reliable, affordable, and healthy transportation option. 

Summer is about to end, and yet it feels as if summer never really started. Philadelphians are figuring out how to safely attend school, arrange for daycare, commute to work, and much more. What we do know is that virtual programming is here to stay! Going digital allows for our riders to still connect, share experiences, and build their cycling skills while being socially distant.  In collaboration with our partners at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP), Indego is now hosting a new, online community event designed to let you share your story, struggles, and ideas about biking during this re-entry phase.