🚏 SEPTA MEETINGS THIS WEEK
There are two upcoming meetings hosted by SEPTA this week that we need volunteers to show up for and speak out:
TOMORROW: May 22, 10am & 4pm
SEPTA FY2025 Capital Budget Public Hearing
THURSDAY: May 23, 3pm
SEPTA Board Meeting - May 2024
At SEPTA's capital budget hearings, they will be hearing from riders about how to allocate their capital budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
At SEPTA's May board meeting, the board will be taking a final yes/no vote on Bus Revolution.
RSVP and we can help you with your testimony.
Want to support our advocacy work to ensure Philadelphians have reliable and effective public transit? Become a 5th Square member for as little as $5 per month.
🚲SPEAK UP FOR PROTECTED BIKE LANES
Join the Bicycle Coalition and Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia as they head back to Harrisburg on Tuesday, June 4th to talk to elected officials about the benefits of Parking Protected Bike Lanes and why it’s urgent they be legalized across the commonwealth.
RSVP HERE
Tuesday, June 4, 7:00AM - 4:00PM
PA State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA
🔇 RIDE OF SILENCE & VISION ZERO
Despite the miserable weather, hundreds showed up for the Ride of Silence to honor and remember bicyclists who have been killed on Philadelphia's streets.
This year's Ride of Silence comes shortly after Mayor Parker announced a planned cut to Vision Zero funding despite recently recommitting Philadelphia to its goal of reaching zero traffic deaths.
Philly Bike Action has an email tool you can use to tell Mayor Parker and Council President Johnson that you value roadway safety.
Read more from Inquirer columnist Helen Ubiñas: Mayor Parker’s commitment to eliminating traffic deaths rings hollow at Ride of Silence
💸 FARE-FREE TRANSIT
Thanks to a new $578K grant from the William Penn Foundation will fund evaluation of a pilot program equipping 25,000 low-income residents with free SEPTA Key cards.
5th Square has long supported making transit more accessible to lower-income Philadelphians, and this continuation of the fare-free pilot is a great next step.
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
Bartram's Garden Petition for Improved Trail Conditions
Bartram's Garden is currently seeking state funding to support improved conditions, access, and amenities along the Bartram's Mile Trail. Sign their petition to show your support for their funding request.
🚲 Fishtown and Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Bikeways Survey
OTIS is soliciting feedback on their project to identify several neighborhood streets for bikeways in Fishtown and Strawberry Mansion. Read more and fill out their surveys:
✍️ Historic District Petitions
5th Square opposes the proposed historic districts in Washington Square West and Spruce Hill because we believe they will raise rents by restricting the development of new housing as well as increase costs for existing homeowners by making home repairs more complicated, expensive, and time-intensive. We are instead calling to preserve historically significant buildings with individual historic designations. Learn more and sign the petitions:
Several parking lots in Washington Square West that would be protected as "contributing" properties by the proposed historic district
🏫 Support Student SEPTA Passes
The School District of Philadelphia gives SEPTA passes to certain students if they live far enough away from their school. A student concerned that this places an unfair financial burden on some families has set up a petition to call for free SEPTA passes for all students regardless of where they live. Sign the petition here.
🚲 Withdraw the Bike Lane Parking Permits on Spruce and Pine Streets
Ever used the bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets on a weekend? You might have noticed that the bike lanes turn into a parking lot due to an arrangement the city has with nearby houses of worship to allow parking in the bike lane. This practice creates a dangerous situation for those using the bike lane, and it may even be illegal. Join Philly Bike Action in signing their petition and calling to end this dangerous practice.
🚌 Support SEPTA Bus Revolution
Buses are a vital lifeline for getting folks around Philly, with many neighborhoods completely reliant on this service being fast, frequent, and reliable. SEPTA’s Bus Revolution would make buses more useful for more people by redesigning its entire bus network which would result in over a million more people gaining access to frequent bus routes.
Learn more about why we support Bus Revolution and sign our petition in support.
💸 Support SEPTA Funding
Governor Shapiro has announced that he plans to direct $282 million in sales tax revenue to SEPTA and other PA transit agencies. This will cover a significant portion of SEPTA's deficit, but we must keep up the fight ensure Governor Shapiro's proposed funding comes through and to find an additional funding source to cover the remaining deficit.
You can help by signing this petition, and reaching out to elected officials.
🛣️ Stop I-95 Expansion
PennDOT is planning to expand I-95 in Center City and South Philly by adding lanes and new ramps. This will threaten the well-being of our neighborhoods by worsening air quality, increasing noise pollution, and harming our access to the waterfront.
Join us in telling PennDOT that highway expansion has no place in the core of Philadelphia by signing our petition.
EVENTS
Philly Fool Moon Ride
May 23, 8:48 PM | Art Museum Steps
The Flower Moon. Rolling is 9pm. This will be a midpoint rest stop with a outdoors BYOB endpoint. Route details will be posted the day before!
Camden Night Gardens
May 24, 5PM - 9PM | Cooper's Poynt Park
Night Gardens is the kickoff event for the Connect the Lots season and summer in the city of Camden. Camden Night Gardens transforms Cooper's Poynt Waterfront Park into nighttime cultural destination with a public festival featuring live local performers, mystical characters, giveaways and more!
Night Cycle PHL Two Bridges Ride
Friday May 24, 6:45 meet, 7:15 roll | Penn Treaty Park
Bikeout: Philly to Schwenksville
May 25 - May 26 | Philadelphia Museum of Art
A celebration of Philadelphia's beautiful trails, this ride will travel from the Museum of Art along scenic waterways to a summer camp in Montgomery County.
Philly Bike Action Anniversary Fundraiser
May 30 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | The Trestle Inn, 339 N 11th St
Celebrate PBA’s one-year anniversary with a night of fundraising at The Trestle Inn’s “Feel the Love” Happy Hour. We’ll have a group ride, t-shirts for sale, raffles, and an indoor Gold Sprint competitions to keep you cheering all evening. 20% of bar profits will be donated to PBA.
BikeJC Jersey City Ward Tour
June 2nd, 11am rollout | Jersey City
The Jersey City Ward Tour is Bike JC's largest event, with 3,000 cyclists taking a 15 mile ride through all of Jersey City's wards.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Philadelphia Housing Development Corp.
- Director, Multi-Family Development Finance
- Rehabilitation Housing Inspector III
- Risk and Insurance Manager
Transit App / Growth, SEO & ASO
East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District / Executive Director
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
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