5th Square's Steering Committee issues the following statement: The removal of the housing component of the 76 Place project is a huge step backwards for Philadelphia, especially given our city’s massive housing shortage. Residential density lowers housing costs and reduces cost pressure on current housing stock. Canceling these units also jeopardizes meeting our Mayor’s stated goal of 30,000 new housing units in the next four years. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 301 🍻 BIPOC URBANISTS MEETUP NEXT TUESDAY Calling all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) urbanists! Join us this Tuesday, 10/29 for a meetup at Indy Hall. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 300 🚲 CONCRETE-PROTECTED SPRUCE AND PINE STREETS The City of Philadelphia is holding a public open house to gather community input on its plan to protect the Spruce and Pine bike lanes on Thursday, October 17. Show up to support the plan! Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 299 🍻 BIPOC URBANISTS MEETUP Calling all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) urbanists!  Join us on 10/29 for a meetup at Indy Hall. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 298 📖 BOOK TALK ON MONDAY This Monday October 7th, 5th Square will be hosting author Anna Zivarts to discuss her newly-published book about adapting our transportation system for non-drivers titled When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 297 🚌 EXPANDING STUDENT SEPTA ACCESS We're working to win expanded student passes for SEPTA. Are you a parent, or do you work directly with youth? We are seeking volunteers to testify THIS THURSDAY at 10am at City Hall. RSVP Here Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 296 🏙️ MAKE PEDESTRIAN ZONES PERMANENT WHYY's Studio2 explored the concept of permanent pedestrian zones for Philly featuring our own Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman! Listen to it here. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 295 🥳 NO MORE BIKE LANE PARKING Fulfilling a longstanding ask from 5th Square and other safe streets advocates, Council President Johnson and Councilmember Gauthier have introduced a bill to ban drivers from parking or stopping in any bike lane in the city.  See here for our thoughts on the bill and why this is a huge step forward for making our streets safer for all.   Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 294 🚲 MAYOR'S RESPONSE TO PETITION After 5th Square, the Bicycle Coalition, and Philly Bike Action organized a petition calling for concrete bike lane protection, we delivered the 6,000+ signatures to Mayor Parker. Though the initial reception was a bit icy, Mayor Parker acknowledged the petition last week and spoke to bike advocates, promising to "begin community engagement immediately" for OTIS's Spruce/Pine proposals. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 293 🚲 CLEAR BIKE LANES If you've biked down Spruce or Pine Streets on a weekend, you've likely encountered a lot of parked cars blocking your way--even more than the typical weekday bike lane obstructions! Continue reading