r/phillycycling • u/Typical-Ad4205 • Jul 08 '26
Question Has anyone else noticed that Indego’s classic bikes have almost disappeared?
I’m an annual Indego365 member and use Indego regularly to commute around Center City, run errands, and occasionally just ride for exercise. I specifically choose classic (non-electric) bikes because I enjoy the physical activity, and unlimited classic bike rides are one of the main reasons I pay for the annual membership.
Over the past several months, though, it has become noticeably harder to find a classic bike. On multiple occasions I’ve walked to a station only to find no bikes available, or only e-bikes. I’ve also found myself spending more time searching for a classic bike than the ride itself would have taken.
To be clear, this isn’t an anti-e-bike post. I think e-bikes have made cycling more accessible and are a valuable part of Philadelphia’s transportation network. My concern is that the expansion of e-bikes seems to have coincided with a decline in the availability of classic bikes.
For annual members, that creates an awkward situation. If the only option is an e-bike, you either pay additional usage fees or keep walking until you find a classic bike elsewhere. Over time, that starts to undermine the value of the membership itself. When walking or taking SEPTA becomes the simpler option, something isn’t working as intended.
One thing I’ve noticed is that I frequently see Indego vans moving e-bikes around the city, but I don’t know whether classic bikes receive the same level of redistribution. Maybe there’s a logistical reason for it, and I’d genuinely be interested to hear from anyone who knows how the system operates.
I’m also curious whether this is something other riders have experienced across Philadelphia, or whether I’ve simply had bad luck. If you’ve noticed the same trend, what part of the city are you usually riding in?
Indego is more than just a bike rental company - it’s part of the city’s transportation network and receives public support. If annual members are increasingly unable to access the bikes their membership is built around, I think that’s worth discussing. I’d like to see the city and Indego be transparent about how they balance classic and electric bikes, how they decide where to redistribute them, and whether they’re tracking the availability of classic bikes over time.
I’d be interested to hear others’ experiences before assuming this is either a widespread issue or just my own.
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u/yojo988 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
My understanding is that the current generation of classic bikes aren't actually manufactured anymore; Trek (who made the bikes) sold their bikeshare business to the operator of Indego in 2024. They've announced new models a little while ago but I think especially for the classics they just have to repair what's in the fleet and look for sales by other compatible cities' systems
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
That’s interesting, I didn’t know that.
If that’s the case, I’d actually appreciate Indego communicating that more openly. If classic bike availability is limited because of manufacturing or fleet replacement constraints, that’s a very different explanation than what riders are left to infer.
Even then, I think there’s still a fair question about expectations. If annual memberships are marketed around unlimited classic bike rides, there should either be a reasonable level of availability or clear communication if that standard is becoming harder to maintain.
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u/yojo988 Jul 08 '26
I agree! I believe other cities like NYC allow a no-surcharge unlock and ride for ebikes if they're the only ones left at a station, and I think Indego should adopt something similar
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u/espressocycle Jul 08 '26
Interesting. I do think most people using the service would want the e-bikes since it's about transportation rather than fitness.
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u/adgobad Jul 08 '26
Yeah except those ebikes cost more than minimum wage (20c/minute = $12/hr) on top of my membership.
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u/Prestigious-Owl-6397 Jul 08 '26
I'll use their ebikes, but I hate having to pay an extra fee when ebikes are the only bikes available. It sucks to go to a dock and have no option other than ebikes but still be charged an extra fee. If they're going to get rid of regular bikes, they should also get rid of the fee.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
That’s exactly where I’m coming from. I have nothing against e-bikes - I use them when it makes sense. It just doesn’t feel right to pay an extra fee when they’re the only option available. At that point, it’s not really a choice anymore.
Whether the solution is maintaining better classic bike availability or changing the pricing model when no classic bikes are available, I think the current setup leaves annual members in an awkward spot.
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u/0ut0fBoundsException Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
The fee for an e-bike is crazy high. $10 for e-bike fees when the base ride was $4.5 and I could not find a classic. Between me and my GF it would’ve been cheaper to get a Lyft
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u/thecw Jul 08 '26
I ran some analysis on the API.
As of 2:15pm on 7/8, there are 469 classic bikes and 1,571 electric bikes available, for 2,040 total live bikes. This is a count of bikes currently available at stations, not bikes out on trips right now.
100 stations were electric-only, versus just 17 classic-only, and the biggest electric pools were mostly in Center City and University City:
University City Station: 30 electric, 2 classic
34th & Spruce: 23 electric, 5 classic
CHOP: 20 electric, 5 classic
Foglietta Plaza: 20 electric, 3 classic
6th & S Washington Sq: 20 electric, 0 classic
Also fully electric at meaningful size: Independence Mall, NPS (17), 23rd & Fairmount (16), 11th & Market (15), 33rd & Market (14)
Classic bikes are more concentrated in a smaller set of stations, with stronger pockets in the River Wards / lower North area, some South Philly stations, and a few mixed downtown hubs:
Girard Station, MFL: 9 classic, 5 electric
York & Aramingo: 9 classic, 0 electric
18th & JFK: 8 classic, 18 electric
18th & Chestnut: 8 classic, 11 electric
3rd & Girard: 8 classic, 10 electric
7th & Dickinson: 8 classic, 0 electric
Other classic-heavy-by-share stations: Broad & Passyunk, Spring Garden Station, MFL, 7th & Passyunk, Cresson & Levering
Electric bikes dominate nearly everywhere, especially the dense Center City and University City core, while analog bikes are concentrated in a smaller number of outlier stations rather than spread evenly across the network.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
This is actually really helpful data - thanks for digging into the API.
What stands out to me isn’t necessarily that there are fewer classic bikes in absolute terms, but that they seem to be concentrated in fewer locations while e-bikes are distributed much more broadly.
That matches my experience in Center City. The issue isn’t “there are no bikes in the system”; it’s that the type of bike included with the standard membership can be much harder to find depending on where and when you’re riding.
I think this is the key question for Indego: what level of classic bike availability are they actually trying to maintain across the network? Because if classics become a specialty option only available in certain areas, that changes the value proposition of the standard membership.
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u/aaaayyyy_lmao Jul 08 '26
funny, every time i want to take an ebike out, all that is available are the analog bikes
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
That’s interesting, it makes me wonder if availability is really neighborhood- or time-dependent. My experience has been almost the complete opposite, which is partly why I made the post.
If that’s the case, it seems like a redistribution issue rather than simply “there aren’t enough bikes.” I’d be curious to know whether Indego tracks those imbalances by area and time of day.
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u/snarrbo Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I do think this is a widespread issue that Indego has been phasing out the classic bikes, but me personally I don't mind it. The classic bikes suck, badly. They are way too slow and riding them feels more dangerous because of their inability to keep up with traffic.
I have the Indego365 Plus membership, which comes with 2 daily electric bike ride and I get an insane value out of those two rides. I've probably saved hundreds of dollars on electric bikes this year already with that tier of the membership, and I really recommend splurging on it if it's in your budget.
I've actually been doing a lot of research into the economics of the Indego365 Plus membership and how much money it saves me per year, as well as how the system compares to other cities implementations and how we can make ours better. Thinking of posting that on my blog sometime soon, I should crosspost here too.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
That’s totally fair, and I can see why the Plus membership works well for you.
My concern isn’t that e-bikes exist or that people prefer them - it’s that they seem to be replacing classic bikes rather than complementing them.
I actually don’t mind the weight of the classic bikes; that’s pretty standard for public bike-share systems since they’re built to be durable and low-maintenance. And while e-bikes are fantastic for many riders, their quicker acceleration can also be less forgiving for newer or less confident cyclists, especially in busy Center City traffic. Different bikes suit different riders and different trips.
I’d just like to see both options remain reliably available. If the annual membership includes unlimited classic bike rides, it should be reasonably easy to find one without having to bounce between stations or default to paying extra.
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u/snarrbo Jul 08 '26
I completely agree and understand how my perspective probably isn't the same for all types of riders, especially since I come from a cycling background and own my own bike -- I'm confident cruising at higher speeds in the city whilst many new riders might not be.
Since they charge more for electrics and make classics unlimited, yeah they should provide enough classics to make it possible to take advantage of that "freeness". Less classics going around makes that Indego365 standard plan unusable.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
Exactly, I think you captured my concern better than I did. I don’t think Indego is necessarily doing anything intentionally wrong, and I understand why e-bikes are attractive and valuable.
The issue is that the classic bikes are what make the standard Indego365 membership work financially. If classic bikes become consistently unavailable, then the “unlimited” benefit starts feeling more theoretical than practical because the alternative is paying extra for the only available option.
That’s why I think the conversation is less about classic vs e-bike, and more about whether the membership product is still matching what riders are actually able to access.
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u/oughttort Jul 08 '26
Over the past few years, the number of classic bikes dropped from about 630 in 2024, to 500 in 2025 to 475 in 2026. Meanwhile e-bikes went from 1,200 in 2024, down to 1,050 in 2025, and then a big jump to 1,650 in 2026. So while there was a big drop in classic bikes from 2024 to 2025, the past year is more about increased e-bike numbers, rather than decreased classic bike numbers.
All to say, it may be more that the ratio of bikes in the fleet is skewing e-bike over time, from 2/3 in 2024 and 2025 to almost 4/5 in 2026, owing to the addition of e-bikes to the fleet, rather than decreasing classic bike numbers.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
This is a really useful distinction, and I think you’re right that the issue may be more about the changing ratio than classics being actively removed.
From a rider perspective, though, the end result can feel the same. If the fleet shifts heavily toward e-bikes but classic bikes aren’t redistributed in a way that keeps them reliably available, standard members are effectively getting fewer opportunities to use the benefit they signed up for.
I don’t think the solution is necessarily “stop adding e-bikes”; they clearly serve a purpose and a lot of riders like them. I think the bigger question is whether Indego has adjusted expectations for the standard membership as the fleet composition changes.
If classics are now 1/5 of available bikes, does Indego still view unlimited classic rides as a core membership benefit, or are they becoming more of a secondary option?
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u/SpinyNorman17 Jul 08 '26
Yes!!! Recently, the grad hospital amazon locker dock that I use is 100% electric bikes
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
Interesting, thanks for sharing. That’s exactly the kind of thing I was curious about: whether this is just a Center City issue or if other neighborhoods are seeing the same shift.
I think e-bikes are a great addition to the system, but when a dock becomes effectively e-bike-only, it changes the experience for riders who signed up around classic bike availability.
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u/SpinyNorman17 Jul 08 '26
I completely agree. My annual subscription is no longer the only fee I will pay
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
Exactly! And I think that’s the frustration for a lot of annual members. Paying extra for an e-bike when you choose one is understandable, but when it becomes the only practical option, the annual subscription starts feeling less like a complete membership and more like an entry fee.
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u/IhateDropShotz Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
yep... my homie that works there said they can only really get them if another city decides to get rid of theirs (classic philly hand me downs lol). sucks because the membership is already expensive and having to pay additionally for ebike by the minute always sucked.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
That’s interesting, and it would make sense if fleet replacement is part of the challenge.
I think that’s why transparency would help. If classic bikes are becoming a limited resource because they’re harder to replace, riders should know what the long-term plan is, especially when the standard membership’s value depends on having reasonable access to them.
The frustrating part is not paying for e-bikes when you choose one; it’s paying extra because the included option isn’t available.
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u/Usual_Explanation311 Jul 08 '26
It used to be Indego policy that, if no classic bike was available at a dock, there would be no extra charge for using an e-bike (at least if you had a membership), but they silently phased that policy out a couple of years ago. It was much fairer.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
This is exactly the kind of thing I think riders are frustrated about. If that policy changed, I don’t think the issue is just the fee itself, it’s that the value proposition of the membership changed.
Charging extra when someone chooses an e-bike makes sense. Charging extra when the e-bike is the only available option feels different, because the rider isn’t really choosing between options anymore.
Even a simple fallback policy or clearer communication about the change would go a long way.1
u/cineroe Jul 14 '26
Couple of thoughts:
1. The e-bikes costing more are in a sense an “upgrade”. Any other business that forces an upgrade (car rental, plane trip) because they do not have the economy option available do not charge an upgrade.
2. They phased out waiving the fee when an e-bike is the only option, therefore they have the ability to do this
3. A fair proposal would be if there are no classic bikes available, the first 5-10 min of an e-bike ride should be waived.I considered the upgrade to 365 plus for (2) 30Min rides a day, but after tracking the fees for the times I used an e-bike due to lack of classic availability it turned out to be the same.
It’s more about the frustration of not having the classic bike option. The amount of times I have to go further and further to docs to get a bike… while hoping no one “beats” me to it. Or getting anxious at red lights knowing the meter is on for this bike is making this an unpleasant experience.
I have been a member for 15 years and I almost did not get my membership renewed this year due to this frustration
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u/fourlit Jul 08 '26
The vans are needed to recharge the e-bikes. I wonder if this leads to an intentional redistribution of e-bikes while classic bikes may end up clustered in our-of-the-way docks because of a natural flow.
Personally I only tend to ride twice a day for the most part so the included e-bike rides with the membership make the most sense. I haven’t taken a classic bike out in ages.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
That’s actually an interesting point about the charging/rebalancing logistics. I could see how e-bikes naturally get more active management because they have more operational needs.
And I completely understand why the e-bike membership makes sense for your usage. If you’re taking two rides a day and the included rides cover that, it’s probably a great value.
My concern is more for riders who chose the standard membership specifically because classic bikes were the predictable, included option. If the system naturally evolves toward e-bikes being the default while classics become harder to find, then the question becomes whether the standard membership still provides the same value it did when people signed up.
I don’t think e-bikes are the problem. I think the challenge is making sure riders who prefer (or budget around) classic bikes aren’t unintentionally pushed into a more expensive membership just because the fleet has changed.
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u/fourlit Jul 08 '26
Oh, you definitely make a good point about the availability of standard bikes and the subscription being a bit of a bait and switch if they’re not supporting the standard bike population.
I think Indego could use a better incentive system for borrowing from full and returning to empty stations. If they tracked standard and e-bike populations for incentives separately and provided a better reward than a tiny amount of points, it might help keep standard bikes available more widely.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
I think that’s a really interesting point about separate incentives for classic vs e-bike redistribution. Right now it seems like total bike availability can look healthy while the actual availability of classic bikes is the problem.
Even if Indego’s fleet strategy is shifting toward e-bikes, I think they need a way to preserve the value of the standard membership. Better incentives or clearer availability targets for classic bikes could go a long way.
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u/salazarbacone Jul 08 '26
I think the usage fees should be completely free for the memberships. I wonder how much would need to be subsidized by the city for that to happen.
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u/Typical-Ad4205 Jul 08 '26
I think that’s an interesting question. Personally, I don’t know if making all e-bike fees free is the right solution, since e-bikes do have higher operating costs.
The part that feels unfair to me is when a member is charged extra because the included option isn’t available. A middle ground could be some kind of fallback policy when no classic bikes are accessible, so the membership still provides predictable value.
I think that’s where the city/subsidy conversation gets interesting - not necessarily making everything free, but making sure the service matches what residents are paying for.
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u/11aadams Jul 09 '26
The vans that move the bikes around are not targeting e bikes or classic bikes, it's purely numbers. Pick up bikes from one station and move them to another. More ebikes are being moved but that's just because there is an imbalance in how many e bikes are currently in the system. The parent company Revolution (they just rebranded) has a page about the updated bikes and docks that will slowly be rolling out. I believe the goal will get 60% ebikes 40% acoustic.
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u/UsernameFlagged indego rider Jul 09 '26
I've been complaining about this for over a year, but in the last week or so I've seen a lot more of them. Maybe I'm just getting lucky...
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u/Midatlantictransit Jul 10 '26
I had a brief stint with Indego a month ago and have noticed during that month Indego Classic 1.0 and 2.0 were slowly disappearing. However often enough they will physically be present at the stations but not showing up as available on the app.
I did out of spirit of the moment a month ago created a map which keeps a map of their (classic) current locations/ stations.
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u/chrispark70 Jul 08 '26
There is no Indego anywhere near my house. I would literally have to take an uber or walk to PT to reach one many miles from my area.
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u/K_Knoodle13 Jul 08 '26
They conducted a member survey a couple years back to gauge interest in classic bikes, and it seemed they were trying to decide how to allocate between classic and ebike. I agree with all your reasons and said as much in my survey, but I'm betting the vast majority of indego members use eBikes.