You Can Now Exercise While Waiting for Your Flight at PHL

A small gym has been rotating around the terminals since late June. The summer pilot program could be extended permanently.

First, pop-up beer gardens. Now, pop-up gyms.

If your flight’s been delayed at Philadelphia International Airport, there’s more to do now than just browse Brookstone and Brooks Brothers. In a gym that’s been moving around the terminals this summer, there are now exercise bikes and elliptical machines! The pilot program is just for the summer, though an airport spokesman says there is an indication the bikes could become a permanent fixture.

The exercise bikes have been lent to the airport by Smooth Fitness and Health, a King of Prussia exercise equipment store.

Philadelphia’s equipment includes 30 free-standing cycling machines consisting of only a seat and pedals, conspicuously lacking devices that measure heart rate or varies the user’s degree of exertion on more sophisticated machines.

Most of the cycling machines, called sitNcycles, are about the size of kitchen stools, and have replaced white wooden rocking chairs that are positioned near the shops and restaurants of Terminal C.

The machines were installed at PHL in late June.

[NYT]