For safer streets, Philly advocates have legislative priorities for fall session

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As public pressure swells for Philadelphia to protect cyclists and pedestrians, the upcoming legislative session could mark a turning point for street safety.

Local advocates delivered a petition signed by over 5,000 people to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office last Thursday demanding stricter rules against cars in bike lanes. They asked for permanent protection for the bike lanes on Pine and Spruce streets and changes to signs to prohibit cars from idling.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia says a high-quality bike lane should have a “no stopping” sign instead of a “no parking” sign, according to policy director Nicole Brunet.

In order to change the signage of the bike lanes in a district, City Council members must pass a bill.

In a statement responding to the petition that was sent to WHYY News, the office of Adam K. Thiel, Philadelphia’s managing director appointed by Parker, said the administration will “examine every possible solution and action to make Philadelphia safer.”

“These solutions include a mix of curbside policy changes that could be implemented in the near term and physical infrastructure upgrades which would require more time to design and build,” it continued. “The Mayor’s Office and City departments continue to field calls and gathering information from other sources of outreach throughout this process.”

Activists also hope to see Philadelphia City Council propose a funding increase to the safe streets program Vision Zero, Brunet said.

Council President Kenyatta Johnson supports a transfer of $1 million from the city budget to Vision Zero, but there is no indication whether that legislation will be introduced or when, according to his director of communications, Vincent Thompson.

Yet street safety is in the hands of state lawmakers, too, as activists continue advocating for a legislative change to a Pennsylvania parking rule that makes it illegal to designate parking between a bike lane and moving traffic — a safer option for cyclists — by requiring cars to park within a foot of the curb.

State legislators have made past attempts to amend the rule, with nearly seven years passing since the initial proposal. But Louis Bartholomew of the PA Safe Roads PAC said the current feeling among advocates is optimistic.

“It’s more hopeful than last time just because we unfortunately did not get parking protected bike lanes last session, but we did get … legislation that allowed speed cameras on different state roads in Philadelphia,” he said. “I think we have a really good shot at this upcoming legislative session.”

The new bill would allow cars to park next to a protected bike lane or pedestrian plaza, essentially redefining what constitutes a curb.

Senate Transportation Committee Chair Wayne Langerholc Jr. said the legislation could make it out of committee and to the governor’s desk this fall — if it has the support. Langerholc said some lawmakers are concerned with how trucks would make deliveries and the compatibility between certain roads and protected bike lanes.

Bartholomew said the new rule wouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all situation.

“This is definitely not a mandate, it’s just giving local folks the flexibility to do it if they want,” he said. “I think that this configuration makes sense in a lot of places. But of course, if someone says, ‘This just isn’t the best thing for us,’ they’re absolutely free to not pursue this.”

Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems partnered with PennDOT in 2020 to install parking-protected bike lanes on JFK Boulevard and Market Street, among other state roads, to study their safety benefits.

It found decreases in vehicle speeds and rates of fatalities and serious injuries, as well as increases in bicycle volumes on roads where bike lanes are protected.

Now, the office wants to turn its focus to using that data to support the legislation that will permit safer street designs, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Jeannette Brugger said.

“How long do things have to be tested for it to be seen as the new thing to do that is codified?” she said. “I think this pilot has run its course. We are not to a point where we want to expand … We are moving forward with hopefully a legislative solution.”

For Bartholomew, it’s a worthwhile compromise, a sentiment shared by Russell Richie, treasurer of the Philadelphia-based PAC 5th Square.

“We don’t need more studies,” Richie said. “We know what makes streets safe and it’s infrastructure that slows down cars, that converts space for cars into a space for people and bikes and transit.”

Both Philadelphia City Council and the Pennsylvania General Assembly will reconvene in September.