Always a good reminder that even the partial highway tolling regime Philly has is completely backwards: only some belt highways and bridges are tolled, while nearly all radial highways which directly contribute to CBD congestion are free!

They say all good things come in pairs 🦅🏆🏆

YouTube video by CCD Philadelphia Open Streets: West Walnut | Center City District

We loved Open Streets so much that we made a short film. youtu.be/N7Mjp758YyU

Big things on the agenda for introduction in Baltimore on Monday:

•Plex Reform
•Single-Stair Reform
•Parking Reform

Planners and city govts have done a really poor job thus far on recognizing delivery e-bike riders as a legitimate mode and part of the transportation calculus. If we really want to improve "community engagement" this is the first community I would want to engage!

Fake license plate that’s spelled PENSILVANIA

if you’re gonna put fake plates on your car you gotta at least spell the name of the state correctly

There are three kinds of people:

People who think suffering is okay as long as it's borne by the right people;

People who think suffering is okay because they had to suffer;

People who think suffering isn't okay.

Be in the last category.

Regional planners calculated the impact on traffic if SEPTA cuts happen. It’s really bad. New traffic projections from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission show a potentially miserable commute for Philly drivers.

Sick of traffic during your morning commute?

Then I have some bad news: if SEPTA's service cuts go into effect, there will be 275,000 more cars on the road every day.

We generate 41% of PA's economic activity on 5% of its land. This isn't possible without SEPTA.

www.inquirer.com/transportati...

Didn’t Ben Franklin say that those willing to trade safety for parking deserve neither safety nor parking?

go birds

CM Squilla 3 Bills (CP behalf)

B: Repealing bill 240972
B: Repealing bill 240971
B: Repealing bill following ordinances - 240966, 240967, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240963, 240973.

Perhaps the most depressing part about the last couple of months is that every awful shitty thing that’s happening to this country is self-induced. People asked for this. None of it had to happen.

CM Lozada - nothing today

CM Young - 1 Bill 2 PRs

B: Amending 9-800 Landlord and Tenant to place limits on late fees that can be charged to residential tenants
R: Honoring and congratulating Jalen Hurts for being named Super Bowl MVP

R: Auth Transp Committee to hold hearings to investigate potential locations for new intercity bus terminals in Philadelphia

Council President Johnson quips, "Can someone do a health and welfare check on our Councilmember Harrity?"

They’re gonna convert the building to residential

Many thanks to @5thsq.org for bestowing upon me the 2024 Urbanist Public Servant of the Year Award, grateful for the recognition and excited for what 2025 will bring

Philly residents take a DIY approach to solving quality of life issues Providing WiFi in public spaces, providing signage to alert cyclists to safety issues ... it's all part of a larger trend of communities offering services and information when it isn't available throu...

Plenty of Philadelphians have followed that principle and taken direct action with a DIY methodology called “tactical urbanism” to fill in gaps where the city’s resources or infrastructure falls short. …“If the city isn’t doing it, we will.”

Thanks for covering this @billy-penn.bsky.social

Jawad Pullin standing behind a podium in council chambers

🏛️ Public Servant of the Year:
Jawad Pullin, Legislative Director, Office of Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. @jawadpullin.bsky.social

In his short time working in City Hall, he’s made a huge impact behind the scenes supporting Open Streets, SEPTA Funding, Speed Cameras, and Bicycle Safety.

PRESENTING THE WINNERS OF OUR 2024 URBANIST AWARDS! Urbanist Lifetime Achievement Award - Dena Driscoll ≥ Urbanist Changemaker of the Year - Jessie Amadio, Co-Founder & Vice Chair, Philly Bike Action Public Servant of the Year - Jawad Pullin, Legislative Director, Office of Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. do Neighborhood RCO Champion - Jonas Maciunas, Garden Court Community Association & 48th Street Greenway Me Best Development of the Year - Meantime / ISA Architects Urbanist Media Champion - Jake Blumgart, Reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer

We will be honoring (among many others)
@denadriscoll.bsky.social
@bikeaction.org
@jawadpullin.bsky.social
@jblumgart.bsky.social

Mayor Adams is a clown but City of Yes is a great slogan ngl

public housing; relaxing of historic district restrictions; redeveloping strip malls into town centers; 5-10y tax abatements for affordable + market rate housing; and elimination of mandatory parking minimums, and redevelopment of parking lots with dense housing.

Anything else?

What would City of Yes look like in Philly? Expanding TOD overlay to more BSL and RR stations, and increasing footprint from 500 sqft radius; upzoning, and reversing downzonings of major corridors; removal of ADU bans from district overlays; redevelopment/densification of aging

Image 8. "Making deliveries in the city by bicycle is fuel efficient, but can be hazardous...Messenger Thomas DeVuono navigates in traffic on Walnut st., west of 16th." (Owens. “Cyclists and traffic” October 7, 1978. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection.)

Image 9. "Mass transit means four on a bike for youngsters making a trip along 54th st. near Chester av. in West Philadelphia." (Pasquarella, Don. “Mass transit” November 1, 1969. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection.)

Image 7. "Mayor Dilworth (right) welcomes young business and professional men arriving at Reyburn Plaza after bicycling along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Demonstration was sponsored by the Heart Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania to show that cycling is good for health." (“Bicycle journey for health ends at Reyburn Plaza” February 7, 1957. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection.)

Image 14. "Bicyclists sing as they gather for a ride around Philadelphia City Hall to urge officials to encourage bicycle commuting into the city. Among their proposals are more than 25 miles of bicycle routes and secure bike parking arrangements." (Craig, James A. “Bikers protest” November 19, 1977. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection.)

A Century of Cycling in Philly!

Great finds from the Temple University Archives by Dan Powers at The Trellis
www.thetrellisphilly.com/pedaling-thr...

Why can't us?

The safety improvements are intuitive for most. But the economic data is not. I often think this is the more persuasive point.

🚨Message Gov. Shapiro's office to take executive action and flex federal highway dollars to avert transit crisis!

Pennsylvania’s legislature broke its promise & failed to deliver funding for transit.

Now, only Governor Shapiro has the power to stop imminent fare increases and service cuts.

🤣🤣🤣

If the Eagles truly care about us, they’ll read the room and slap the absolute fuck out of Dallas this week