The Philadelphia City Council passed a bill today that prohibits vehicles from stopping or standing in any bike lane in Philadelphia.

The proposed legislation, called the “Get Out The Bike Lane” bill, would penalize stopping, standing, or parking in a bike lane with a fine of $125 in Center City and University City, and $75 in other parts of the city. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced the bill on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson. It was passed unanimously.

The “Get Out The Bike Lane” bill replaces the current law, which went into effect in January 2013 and penalizes parking in a bike line with a fine of $75 in Center City and University City and $50 in other parts of the city.

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A bicyclist riding along Woodland Avenue while a new separated bike lane is under construction. (Photo by West Philly Local)

UPDATE (10/1/2024): Legislation authorizing a bike lane on Woodland Avenue from Chester Avenue to South 42nd Street was introduced on Sept. 26 by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. This is part of the Phase 2 of the Woodland Ave Complete Streets Project. If the bill is passed it will authorize the replacement of the parking lane with a 2-way bikeway on the south side of Woodland Avenue in 2027. The bill to turn the parking lane into a bike lane in front of the Woodlands cemetery was passed in 2022 and the work is currently underway (read more below). 

(9/20/2024): Streets Department crews have begun work on Woodland Avenue between the VA Medical Center Driveway and Chester Avenue, as part of the Woodland Avenue Complete Streets project which aims to improve safety for all users – drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists – between VA Driveway and 42nd Street.

Phase 1 of the project, which is expected to be completed this fall, includes the addition of a separated bike lane from VA Driveway to Chester Avenue along north and south curb and installation of traffic signals with crosswalks at Chester Avenue and 40th Street Portal/The Woodlands. To accommodate the addition of the bike lane, street parking in this section of Woodland has been removed.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) wants your input on how to spend more than $170 million in federal funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to install public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Pennsylvania. At least $14 million of this funding will be allocated to Philadelphia to subsidize the installation of public EV chargers.

Residents have an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback for this project as PennDOT is currently conducting a brief survey to help inform the program and identify location priorities.

PennDOT is first required to use the federal funds towards building a network of fast charging along major roadways, which is also reflected in the survey. You can check PennDOT’s progress to deploy this charging network on the PennDOT NEVI Active Projects Map.

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SEPTA has announced proposed fare changes, including the elimination of the 50-cent fare discount for Key card and contactless media users, which means that they will have to pay the full amount of $2.50 per ride.

SEPTA officials say that the transit authority is facing a $240 million budget deficit after runnning out of COVID funding and getting less state funding than expected.

The $2.50 fare is the same as a single fare cost of a Quick Trip ticket, which can be purchased at SEPTA kiosks with cash. Transfers would remain free and SEPTA is not expected to raise the cost of daily, weekly and monthly passes. The last fare increase was adopted in 2017.

SEPTA will hold two public hearings on October 16, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., where the proposed fare adjustments will be presented.

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Penn has announced its annual Spruce Street closures to accommodate students moving to campus to start the school year. Portions of the street will be closed to vehicular traffic, including bicycles, every day from Monday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 23 with the exception of Thursday, Aug. 22. Here are more details:

Monday, Aug. 19 and Tuesday, Aug. 20

Spruce Street closed between 34th and 38th Streets from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Spruce Street closed between 34th and 38th Streets from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 23

Spruce Street closed between 38th and 40th Streets from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

SEPTA buses will be rerouted during the closures. Please visit the SEPTA website for more information on detours.

UPDATE (7/1/2024): The repaving work, which includes construction of a parking-separated bike lane, began on 48th Street last week. The Streets Department crews have been moving from north to south and got as far as Osage Avenue as of Sunday, June 30 (see photo).

(6/21/2024): Here’s an update on the 48th Street repaving and safety project, which will include many new layout features presented at a community meeting earlier this year.

48th Street between Haverford and Kingsessing Avenues will be re-striped soon, with the work starting as early as in the second half of June, according to Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s Office spokesman Harrison Fineman (Councilmember Gauthier has been working on this project with local community members and organizations). A precise start date is not available at this time.

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