Walk your bike on the sidewalk. It’s called a sideWALK, not a sideRIDE.
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Bike To Work: Save Money, Save Time
(Pictured above: Brendon’s 3yo son Lee likes to help his Dad with checkout)
Name: Brendon Shank @bshank
Occupation/Interest: Associate Vice President, Communications
Society of Hospital Medicine
Neighborhood: Graduate Hospital
Favorite thing about Philly: The people. But also the food.
Why do you ride Indego?
Indego has taught me two things:
I love riding bikes.
I hate owning a bike.
I ride Indego because it’s the fastest, cheapest and most fun way for me to get to and from work.
I can commute to work – door to door – in 20 minutes, without the hassle of looking for parking, hailing a cab or waiting on the bus. Public transportation is awesome, but on a perfect day – when the bus and the SEPTA train show up right when I get there – it’s still 30 minutes; and those perfect days are rare.
For my commute, Indego is about four times less expensive than public transportation. And SIXTEEN times cheaper than driving. But the best part is that Indego gives me the flexibility to still do any or all of the others without extra cost.
Most importantly, it’s just fun. I TOTALLY forgot how much I loved riding a bike until I hopped on an Indego. It keeps reminding me of when I was in elementary school and riding my bike around the neighborhood – it’s hard to beat the wind in your face and the sense of freedom of being on a bike.
It’s also fun to be part of something new. Lots of people have asked me about Indego when I’m getting a bike, returning it or out on one of the bikes; and everyone is impressed with how easy and inexpensive it is. So, basically, riding an Indego in 2016 is exactly like driving a Tesla in 2013.
And, it’s becoming my preferred mode of transport for getting around town, too. My new question for any destination (restaurant, beer garden, store, etc.) is “is there an Indego station nearby?”
Do you ride Indego to work? If so, how’s it going? (Details!)
I do ride Indego to work – and back home again. And I love it.
It’s now one of the reasons I love going to work. It’s a fun way to get pumped up for work and dropping off the bike in the morning gives me the flexibility to take another form of transportation home, if I need to.
But the best part is when I get off the bike. I simply dock it in the station and I don’t have to worry about it. Meanwhile, the ride has me all kinds of fired up – mentally and physically – when I get into the office. It’s pretty much the opposite of the zombie-like feeling I’d sometimes have getting off the train and coming up subway stairs.
It doesn’t hurt that the ride home is mostly downhill, either.
What views do you see on your commute?
My bike route from home to work is a cross-section of a lot of the things I love about in Philly.
It starts off at Graduate Hospital, where I almost always see friends and neighbors; it’s a little like riding through Sesame Street.
Then I go north and eventually cross the Ben Franklin Parkway, so I have the Art Museum on my left and the rest of the city on the right. The architecture and the landscape of the Rodin Museum are a really artful way to start the day, too.
Any tips for new Indego riders?
First, give it a test run before you start commuting. The bikes are built sturdy, so they take a little getting used to if you’re more familiar with a roadbike or a mountain bike.
If you haven’t already, find the bike lanes near you. They certainly make bike commuting easier.
Here’s my pre-ride checklist:
Check the app or online map for bikes before you get to the station. There are lots of stations, so just check for the nearest bike before walking to a specific station.
At the station, get situated before you check out the bike. Get your helmet on, adjust the seat, give the brakes a squeeze before hitting the button and pulling the bike out. The dock helps keep the bike upright while it’s locked, but once it’s out, it’s tougher to do those things.
Enjoy!
Will you bike to work Friday, May 15th in honor of National Bike To Work Day?
Sadly, no. I’ll be in Cleveland for work. But I’ve already checked to see what Cleveland’s bike share situation is. I’m hooked.
Here’s what biking in Philly looks like via IBikePHL. www.ibikephl.org
Bicycling is for everyone — and with the recent addition of Indego Bike Share in Philadelphia, it’s easier than ever for anyone to use bike share as a form of public transportation and recreation. IBikePHL.org intends to show you all kinds of people to highlight the diversity of Philadelphians who are getting around the city by bike. (From the Ibikephl.org website).
Bike To Work: Creating New Routines
In honor of National Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 15th, we are highlighting a few members who use Indego for their daily commute.
Name: Katie Sweeney @k8iedid
Occupation/Interest: Freelance Advertising Copywriter
Neighborhood: Fairmount
Favorite thing about Philly:
I have lived here for 10 years and feel like I’m discovering a whole new city now that I have a baby. New parks with swing sets and shade, new restaurants, new baby stores, new friends, new places to take the jogging stroller.
Why do you ride Indego?
My freelance client’s office is 3 miles away from my house – I used to walk, but now that I have the baby I walk to her day care, leave the stroller and hop on a bike at a station 2 blocks away. I love it!
Do you ride Indego to work? If so, how’s it going? (Details!)
I love it, although my first few rides were a sober reminder that runner legs aren’t biker legs. As a freelancer, I have to lug around a lot of stuff, so the two baskets are very handy. If you have any tips for not having a helmet head, I’ll take them.
What views do you see on your commute?
I love seeing the different personalities of our city on my 2-mile commute. I pass by beautiful museums and my favorite building – the Free Library, the hospital where my daughter was born, and then Chinatown and Old City. I also pass by some awesome construction sites, which are a reminder that our city keeps getting better!
Any tips for new Indego riders?
Wear a helmet and learn your bike signals!
Will you bike to work Friday, May 15th in honor of National Bike To Work Day?
Right now I’m scheduled to work from home that day, but as a freelancer, you never know when a meeting will pop up!
When adjusting your seat, tighten the knob on the side until seat is secure (this will make sure the saddle doesn’t slip while you’re riding).
Bike To Work Day: Beyond The Commute
In honor of National Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 15th, we are highlighting a few members who use Indego for their daily commute.
Name: Russell Swan
Occupation: Attorney – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III
Interests: Biking, hiking, and traveling.
Neighborhood: Admittedly, I do not live in the city. I live in Glenside, PA. However, I spend a tremendous amount of time in Center City since my office is located near the Comcast Center.
Favorite thing about Philly:
There are so many wonderful things about Philadelphia. First, the people. Being from Pittsburgh, I have been made to feel right at home here in Philly, and that’s due in large part to the kind spirit of its people. Second, Philly has the perfect blend of the historical and the new. I marvel at that mix as I, just yesterday, pedaled past the place where the Constitution was signed, while riding an Indego bicycle. History meets innovation. Lastly, Philadelphia is just a great place to live and work. The city gets better as it continues to increase bike friendly passageways.
Why do you ride Indego?
I am an environmentalist. As such, I am concerned about issues surrounding greenhouse gases and the like. There is no debate that vehicle traffic in urban cities contribute heavily to the decrease in air quality. I ride Indego, first and foremost, because the program provides a step in the direction of ameliorating poor air quality in the city. I also ride Indego because I believe in fitness, and bike riding is a good way to burn a few calories and keep the heart happy.
Do you ride Indego to work? If so, how’s it going?
I do not ride Indego to work, but I do ride it during lunch. Philadelphia has great parks and open spaces. Working in center city limited my access to these parks. With Indego, I am able to hop on a bike, get to a great park, have lunch, and get back to the office, refreshed and ready to roll. In fact, just yesterday, I went to an Indego station at JFK and rode to Penn’s Landing. In my 25 year work history, I have never had the opportunity to eat lunch there. With Indego, I was able to get to Penn’s Landing, have a relaxed lunch, and get back to the office rearing to go! It’s been fantastic!
What views do you see on your commute?
One of my favorite lunch time rides has been the loop up Kelly Drive and down West River Drive. Riding along Boathouse Row with the Schuylkill River in the background was just awesome. The best view I’ve had so far can be summed up this way: I was coming up Market Street on my way back from Penn’s Landing. As I rode past one of the bus stops, this man points at me and waves excitedly while exclaiming, “Yo, he’s riding one of those bikes!” I was happy to see that gentleman so excited about seeing Indego in action.
Any tips for new Indego riders?
If you are new to city riding, I suggest you look at the map provided by Indego and stick to the streets with designated bike lanes. Riding in the city is fun, but one needs to be vigilant. Second, always wear a helmet. If your ride is two minutes or two hours, there should always be a helmet on your head! Third, be ready to interact with the general public. I have had so many conversations with people regarding the program, how it works, costs, etc. Be patient. You may be the only thing between them and joining the program. Lastly, have fun!
Will you bike to work on Friday, May 15th in honor of National Bike To Work Day?
Yes I will. I’ll probably ride my personal bike since I’ll be coming from Glenside.
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