PlanPhilly Archive

Philadelphia bike shops, declared an essential business and allowed to remain open are seeing a surge in demand from coronavirus-wary commuters.

In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, biking infrastructure is critical for Philadelphia residents to travel safely and maintain social distancing.

“It’s significant for reducing asthma exacerbation, heart disease and heart attacks,” said Marilyn Howarth of UPenn’s Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology.

Coronavirus has brought the idea of unconditional cash transfers, a policy being experimented with in Philly, to the national stage.

The Homeowners Association of Philadelphia encouraged its membership to embrace the court’s two-week stay of evictions and be lenient with tenants.

SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel said the force has instituted new practices to keep officers safe from the coronavirus but officers remain wary.

SEPTA will reduce Regional Rail service by 25% for the next two weeks and reductions are coming to city train and bus lines, too.

Philadelphia's municipal courts' will not execute any evictions for the next two weeks, starting Monday, March 16, in response to the spreading coronavirus pandemic. 

As ridership numbers drop, the SEPTA riders left on emptier trains take up new safety practices.

A number of utility providers servicing Philadelphia are suspending shut-offs in the face of the growing coronavirus outbreak.

Big parks are great for social distancing and to reduce stress and anxiety produced by the coronavirus pandemic.

As coronavirus continues its spread, city officials are considering a moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, residential tax liens, and utility cut-offs.

Rutgers sociologist Stephen Danley complicated question of how to achieve community consensus on controversial projects, reframing issues of power.

The Giving Project brings together people to collectively raise money and then give it away. This week, the group decided how to disseminate $150,000.

While coronavirus has city agencies on high alert and panicked people emptying shelves of hand sanitizer, Philadelphia’s bike-share program is riding high.