PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the last 10 years Philadelphians have come to know the blue bikes of Indego extremely well, and they’ve ingrained themselves as a key transportation option for many across the city.
To mark its 10th year, bike advocates, program advocates and community members gathered in Center City to celebrate its success as an affordable transportation option.
Uma McGuire with the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia said she regularly uses Indego bikes, and that they give her and others a sense of freedom.
“Biking is freedom,” said McGuire. “It gives me a freedom to get where I need to be that’s good for my wallet.”
Mike Carroll, Philadelphia’s deputy managing director of transportation and infrastructure, said the Indego bikes fill a very key gap for families and communities.
“It’s been such a success over the past 10 years,” he said. “The amount that we’ve been able to offer people who may not have been able to get where they needed to go.”
Tonetta Graham with the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation said the bikes are a vital transportation for many, and they saved the day during SEPTA’s last strike in 2016.
“Indego was there,” she said.
The neighborhood’s proximity to Fairmount Park also provides advocates a good selling point to use the bikes for community members.
“Fairmount Park is like our backyard in Strawberry Mansion,” said Graham. “We just try to let folks know that this is for you.”
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Indego in Philadelphia, riders can score a free 30-minute ride on Wednesday on any of the classic Indego bikes. Visit Indego’s website for more information.