PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has launched a pilot program offering secure bicycle and scooter parking at the Fox Chase Regional Rail Station, an initiative designed to improve access to public transit and encourage more sustainable transportation options.

The project introduces Velomodo, an innovative secure storage system developed in partnership with Sportworks, the company that also supplies the bicycle racks installed on SEPTA buses. The service provides weather-protected, secure storage spaces where riders can safely leave their bicycles and scooters while using the transit system.

SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer said that providing reliable parking options for bicycles and other personal mobility devices is essential to improving accessibility throughout the transit network. He noted that the pilot program will help the agency better understand customer demand while promoting more flexible, efficient, and environmentally friendly ways for riders to access public transportation.

According to a recent SEPTA customer survey, 53 percent of respondents said they would use public transit more often if secure bicycle and scooter parking were available. Each Velomodo unit features individual lockable compartments managed through a digital reservation and payment platform. During the initial phase of the pilot program, however, the service will be available free of charge.

Fox Chase Station was selected for the pilot because it serves as a Regional Rail terminal and offers direct access to the Fox Chase Lorimer Trail, making it an ideal location to evaluate the integration of active transportation with public transit.

The program aims to enhance the customer experience by adding new station amenities, encourage multimodal travel, increase public transit ridership, support local and regional active transportation goals, and provide a low-risk opportunity to evaluate future investments in similar infrastructure.

The initiative also advances a key recommendation from SEPTA’s Micromobility Playbook, which identifies secure bicycle parking as a priority strategy for strengthening first- and last-mile connections throughout the transit network, making it easier for riders to combine cycling or scooter travel with public transportation.