Good job Reddit. Ya'll made the news.
Thank you everyone who sent emails to our Councilperson, Mark Squilla! For those who advocate breaking things, grow up. 2 wrongs don't make a right.
TLDR: City is working with the funeral home to find alternatives. They have provided explicit instruction not to park in the bike lane or remove flexposts.
The Philadelphia Code states that parking on a sidewalk carries a fine of $300. However, I've heard from 3 separate sources (a neighbor who got a ticket, a PPA officer, and the PPA website) that fine is only $75. Can anyone explain why that is? I just want to be able to use the sidewalks in my neighborhood.
Edit: Here is the bill passed in 2021 raising the fee to $300:
Hey all! Wanted to post an update on the Vine Street bike lane. I was out this morning recording the removal of the flex-posts on the Vine Street bike lane. While the flex-posts were removed temporarily to allow parking, they were not left scattered across the sidewalk like last week.
Unfortunately the situation was rather tense and I would rather not see things escalated further. I was shouted at by multiple employees and called a "loser" and a "homo" by one employee in particular. This was not helpful in resolving the matter. I particularly wanted to know if the City/PennDoT had reached out to the funeral home to discuss alternatives for parking. Its not clear if the City/PennDoT has given verbal or written permission to remove flex-posts and park in the bike lane. If they have given permission that's on them but without anything in writing, its hard to know.
The owner of the funeral home has justified this practice in a very broad interpretation of the funeral procession law (https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=75&div=0&chpt=31&sctn=7&subsctn=0). This law governs funeral processions though and does not give funeral homes free reign of parking for visitation or services at a funeral home. It definitely does not allow for removing infrastructure.
I do encourage ya'll to take action so that this matter is solved sooner than later and cyclists can safely use the bike lane again. I'd rather not see infrastructure damaged again while alternatives are available. You can email the District 1 Councilperson at mark.squilla@phila.gov and cc anne.kelly@phila.gov
Sample text:
"Dear Councilman Squilla,
Thank you for helping restore the flex-posts on the Vine Street bike lane. Please work with Choi Funeral Home on 12th street to find alternatives to parking in the bike lane. The current arrangement is dangerous as it forces cyclists into high speed traffic and could result in someone being killed.
Regards,
[name]
[address if in District 1]"
Stay tuned for part 5.
Good news! The flexposts on Vine Street were replaced by the City/PennDoT today, no doubt due to the emails sent by the fine people of r/phillycycling . We still do not have assurances from the City that the law will enforced and that the funeral home will no longer vandalize the bike lane.
If you have a minute, send an email to Councilmember Mark Squilla ( mark.squilla@phila.gov cc anne.kelly@phila.gov ) and let him know that the law must be enforced and that further vandalism is unacceptable.
Sample text:
"Hello Councilmember Squilla,
I am grateful to see the flex-posts reinstalled at the Vine Street bike lane. Protected bike lanes are essential for keeping the bike lanes safe and our neighbors unharmed. Will you promise that the law will be enforced and that the flex-posts will no longer be removed by the employees of the funeral home for parking?
Regards,
[name]
[address if you live in the 1st Council district (use this tool if you don't know https://bikeaction.org/rcos/find/ ] "
Will the City maintain LAW and ORDER or will we descend further into automotive anarchy? Stay tuned for part 4.
Did a more through survey of the bike lane vandalism on east Vine Street. The vandals in question removed a total of 48 flexposts from their mounts. Only 31 of those removed remained on the street (some scattered as far as a block away) meaning 19 are a loss to the taxpayers will likely be footing the bill unless the City/State seeks restitution which they probably won't.
I emailed the City and told them that I would be reinstalling the flex-posts tomorrow. They responded and said they will send a crew out to do it this week.
The funeral home has a service planned for Saturday and they are still advising attendees to park in the bike lane so I'll be out there in the morning this Saturday at 8am to record the vandals in action unless the City does their job and tells to funeral home to stop breaking the law.
Stay tuned for Part 3.
They've been doing this for months. PennDoT and Mark Squilla are aware and have not taken action.
Email mark.squilla@phila.gov (cc: anne.kelly@phila.gov ) and tell him that the law needs to be enforced. If the funeral home really needs to park, they can get a permit on 12th street which doesn't have a bike lane.
This Sunday! Come show your support for Barb's family and safer streets!
Join Wednesday Night Rides and Philly Bike Action on July 8 as we explore new bike infrastructure across the 1st Council District. The ride will start at Mifflin Park in South Philadelphia and end at Old City Beer Garden.
Estimated ride length: 6 miles
Rolling: 7:10 PM
Location: Filbert Street outside Reading Terminal Market
Relevant councilmember to email: mark.squilla@phila.gov (cc: anne.kelly@phila.gov )
There will also be a memorial piece of street art so bring a bottle of water if you want to contribute.