Philly's Bike Share Program Expanding After 1 Year On The Road
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Those sturdy blue bicycles you see around town are gaining traction, as Philadelphia's bike-share system --"Indego" -- celebrates its one-year anniversary.
The city is now expanding station locations and program features.
At a new docking station at the Race Street Pier, officials highlighted a William Penn Foundation $1.5-million contribution to building out another 24 stations, along with 300 more bikes.
That includes several stations in undeserved neighborhoods in State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown's district.
"So we'll have Parkside, and 52nd Street and Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia," she says, "as well as Strawberry Mansion in North Philadelphia."
Mayor Kenney says he would like to make "equity in every neighborhood a hallmark" of his administration:
"No matter what zip code you were born or live in, the amenities you experience should be as high quality as the amenities experienced in any other zip code."
Also, Representative Brown says low-income folks who qualify for access cards will pay a $5 monthly rate for unlimited one hour trips, discounted from the regular $15 monthly rate:
"It gives them accessibility to utilize the program, and get moving for fitness."
The city's bike-share program, which debuted in the spring of 2015, currently features about 700 bikes at 73 stations, most of which are clustered every few blocks in Center City, but extends north to Temple, west to Penn and Drexel as well as to South Philly.
The city-owned program caught on nicely with the public, reaching the 100,000 rider mark only two months after launching.
Organizers say that was notably faster than similarly sized ride share programs across the country, like Boston and Washington DC.
Earlier this month, they reached the 500,000 rider mark.
For those who ride less frequently, Indego Flex members pay $10 a year plus $4 per trip for up to an hour. For the curious, walk-ups cost $4 per half-hour for a one-time trip.
So how do you do it? Simply walk up to any kiosk and use your credit/debit card to pay for a one-time trip. Just follow the prompts on the screen to check out a bike. Passholders use their electronic Indego Key for access to a bike.
After riding, return the bike to any Indego station and firmly push it into a dock. You'll hear three beeps, and a green light will indicate a successful return.