At Indego, we believe in the power of bicycles to transform communities and inspire the next generation. Throughout 2024, we doubled down on our commitment to engaging with youth across Philadelphia, creating opportunities for education, creativity, and connection.  

With help from amazing partners like the Franklin Institute, the School District of Philadelphia, and local organizations, we’ve been able to give young people a voice and share fun, hands-on experiences that showcase the joy of cycling. These efforts were made possible through collaborations with Indego, the City of Philadelphia, and the Bicycle Coalition, all part of the Better Bike Share Partnership (BBSP) — a program aimed at increasing access to and use of shared micromobility systems in low-income and BIPOC communities. 

Keep reading to explore some of the incredible programs and partnerships that shaped 2024! 

Last year, Indego’s Community Engagement team launched a partnership with the Franklin Institute STEM Scholars Program supporting their Data Analytics workshop in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Students had the opportunity to analyze real Indego ridership data from the past two years and make some connections between the data and the environmental and social factors that impacted those numbers. The students identified some key areas of growth that could increase the accessibility of our bikes and even created some infographics and presentations to get the word out to communities that were underrepresented in the data.  

“Projects like this are so important to our work because they give students the opportunity to build community around the resources in their neighborhood,” shared Zig, Indego’s Community Engagement Coordinator. “As a Philly native, I know what it’s like to be young and watch your city change around you and have no say in what’s going on. Projects like this help students engage with Indego and see themselves reflected in the work we do.” 

Indego’s Community Engagement team also partnered with the School District of Philadelphia for a series of workshops with Graphic Design students at the Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA). The students are currently in the brainstorming and exploration phase of the project, and we’re eager to see their ideas take shape later this year. 

These collaborations are part of Indego’s larger mission to not only make cycling accessible but also to promote education and safety across Philadelphia communities. Building on these efforts, Safe Routes Philly at the City of Philadelphia partnered with Community Integrated Services, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in finding meaningful employment, to teach their youth about Vision Zero and Indego. Staff provided tips for how to travel safely around the city and provided promotional codes for Indego. One of the highlights of each session was taking the students outside to practice unlocking and docking Indego bikes. Safe Routes Philly is looking forward to more presentations in the new year. Thank you to the students and staff at Community Integrated Services, Girard College, and the Community College of Philadelphia for their collaboration. To keep up with Safe Routes Philly, visit: www.phila.gov/programs/safe-routes-philly.   

^{Photos by Christopher Young}

Lastly, the Bike Share Educators at the Bicycle Coalition teamed up with Elaine Wells, a dedicated Indego 2024 Ambassador and founder of Global Thinking Initiative, to lead a group ride for young people at the 12th & Cambria Recreation Center’s after-school program. The ride went through Bartram’s Garden and combined physical activity with environmental awareness, offering a chance to explore one of Philadelphia’s most beautiful green spaces. 

This initiative highlighted the value of outdoor recreation while also introducing many participants to the joy of cycling for the first time. One student’s words summed it up perfectly: “This is a quiet space, wow, no traffic noise.” Moments like these remind us why we continue to build opportunities for young people to connect with their city and each other through cycling.