Better Bike Share Conference is coming to Philly and wants your ideas

If you’re a fan of accessible, affordable and sustainable modes of public transportation that actually make you a healthier, happier person the more often you use them, then you’re probably not a fan of SEPTA.

But you might ride Indego, the city’s bike share program.

And if that’s the case, here’s some good news: Better Bike Share Conference, a national three-day conference about bike share, access and social justice, is wheeling its way into town this June.

Funded by the JPB Foundation, the Better Bike Share Partnership is collaboration between The City of Philadelphia, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and PeopleForBikes with a mission to boost access to bike share programs in underserved communities.

From June 22 to 24, attendees will learn which approaches are geared towards making the most impact and which are steering bike share programs away from it. Right now, organizers are inviting attendees to peddle their bike share chops as presenters or panelists. The deadline for proposals is Feb. 29.

But wait, pump those brakes — the selection process is anything but a smooth ride. It’s a competitive peer review cycle that will lance and strong arm any idea not grounded in experience.

And if you’re not an expert? You can still engage. The conference is interested in your thoughts regarding best practices for addressing systemic inequality with transportation and ideas for better reaching underserved communities.