Philadelphia latest to launch bicycle sharing program
<p>Curan Cottman places stickers on bike share bicycles Wednesday in Philadelphia. The city's bike share program launched on Thursday and Independence Blue Cross is the title sponsor of the program dubbed "Indego."</p>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia's bike share program is finally rolling.
Mayor Michael Nutter launched the Indego system Thursday with a ceremonial ride in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Officials in the nation's fifth-largest city say the program has 600 bikes and 70 docking stations that operate 24 hours a day.
Users will be able to get a bike at any station and return it to any other station by using a member card or a credit or debit card.
The city has invested $3 million and another $4.5 million is coming from state, local and foundation funding.
Independence Blue Cross will contribute about $1.7 million each year for the next five years as title sponsor.
Philadelphia follows New York, Washington, D.C., and other big cities into the bike sharing business.