Philadephia is piloting a new bike share program that has potential to get the entire city cycling. First of it, it's opting to place the stations in low-income neighborhoods where they will be more useful. Secondly, people will have the option of paying with cash if they don't have a credit card. These two tweaks make the bike share program much more accessible.
Dubbed Indego, the bike share program looks to diversifying ridership in a meaningful way. Philadelphia's bicycle programs manager Aaron Ritz says, "It was important for us to put the bikes not only in areas that would be a slam-dunk revenue generator." Although people from poorer areas might view riding a bike as an indicator of failure, that is far from the case. To drive that point home, the program will be accompanied by ambassadors and other initiatives helping to dispel stereotypes around cycling.
Bike Share Programs
Philadelphia's Indego System is Placed in Low-Income Neighborhoods
Trend Themes
1. Accessible Bike Share Programs - There is an opportunity to create bike share programs that are more accessible to a wider range of people, including those in low-income neighborhoods and those without credit cards.
2. Diversifying Ridership - Bike share programs can work to diversify their ridership by intentionally placing stations in areas that are not just revenue generators.
3. Dispelling Stereotypes Around Cycling - Bike share programs can help dispel stereotypes by including initiatives such as ambassadors to promote cycling in all communities.
Industry Implications
1. Urban Transportation - The urban transportation industry can integrate accessible bike share programs to promote sustainable and equitable transportation options for all.
2. Community Development - Communities can use bike share programs to promote development in low-income neighborhoods and increase access to transportation.
3. Tourism - The tourism industry can use bike share programs to promote exploration and sustainable travel options for travelers looking to explore a city on two wheels.