Survey shows pretty close split in opinions on Broad Street median parking
For the Democratic National Convention, the Broad Street median was cleared of vehicles. Some were so happy with the emptier streets, that they started a petition to make this a permanent enforcement.
When we shared with you this news, the comment section exploded with a mix of opinions on the situation. New survey results of over 1,000 South Philly residents polled by The Philadelphia Citizen show a pretty close split of people for and against median parking.
49% of residents polled are opposed to banning median parking, while 43% want the middle of Broad Street cars gone. In addition to the simple question of an opinion on the parking situation, the survey continued with a pretty comprehensive list of questions to ask how many cars each of the households surveyed owns, the number of years living in these neighborhoods and more. The results brought some validity to the claims of “old vs. new,” with residents of 20+ years opposing the ban more than the newer South Philly residents.
From The Philadelphia Citizen:
People in South Philadelphia are very concerned about both safety and parking availability, with residents on both sides fiercely passionate about the issue. But this doesn’t have to be an either-or question. If the City can find a way to create 200 parking spots on or around Broad Street in South Philly, then it can close the median to parking. That way, it can address safety without losing parking spots. That’s certainly easier said than done, but making everyone happy on this issue is going to require a little creativity. That’s the challenge to Mayor Kenney: To think creatively, engage community partners, and find a way to resolve a divisive issue.
We recommend you check out the full results over at The Philadelphia Citizen.
Why is this even a question. Parking in the middle of the road is ILLEGAL. Randomly deciding to enforce only certain laws is ridiculous.
If we’re not going to enforce a law, we should disable that law. Optional enforcement is prone to (or a result of) corruption.
For the past few weeks, I have carefully looked at the cars parked in the median each time I drive up and down Broad. Most of the cars do not belong to folks who live in the neighborhood near Broad St. There are license plates from NJ and many cars without neighborhood parking permits on their windows. Why are we allowing illegal parking for people who live elsewhere? It’s insane.
I have lived in south philly the last three years but still have jersey plates, i think it’s a far reaching over generalization to say someone without a parking permit or jersey plates doesn’t live in philly.
So what? You want that privilege, YOU register under PA tags.
It’s not really an over-generalization when the law states that you have 20 days to register your vehicle after moving into Pennsylvania.
Mike S, please tell us more about your illegal activities/insurance fraud.
I can just see the PPA drooling with a boner wanting this to become illegal.
It is illegal
Would it be SO cost prohibitive for the city to install medians with some trees and then cars physically would not be able to park in those spaces? Broad St would look a million times better.
I wonder how many “parking spots” would actually be lost…
This. Put in a median with trees and pedestrian islands. Let the folks from outside the neighborhood pay for parking or pay for a train ticket into the city.
Love this idea.
I’m a big proponent of the idea of a protected bike lane. All but eliminate the center lane save for a left turn lane maybe, and make for a better ride for people that work in the navy yard or need to go south-north for work.
It’s not wide enough for a center lane going two ways with a needed protective median. Also left turns would make it pretty useless/unsafe. If you wanted bike lanes on Broad you’d have to shift everything. They would most ideally be located between the curb and parking.
That’s what I meant. With the bike lanes running between the sidewalk and the parking lane
This is ridiculous. Parking is at a premium in South Philly and now people want to make that total even less than what it is already. What we’re seeing here, however, is not a parking issue. The issue here is in the influx of new residents to South Philly who are hellbent on changing everything about South Philly. Call them hipsters or millenials or gentrifiers, or whatever, they all seem to have one thing in common. They moved to South Philly because they want to be near Center City, but can not afford Center City rent/mortgages. They came to South Philly and want to turn it into an East Coast version of Portland.
The most assinine argument I hear from the people who want the parking on the median outlawed is that this will force people in the neighborhood to drive less and own less cars. These people need a reality check. Not everyone can walk to work. Some of us have jobs further away than the local Starbucks. We also may need transportation during our workday. Also, some of us have actual big boy and big girl jobs where we need to wear business attire – not a good idea to wear a suit while riding a bike to work in the rain. Not all of us can just sit around all day blogging about what we think is ironic. Bikes are not an option. I’d love to suggest to my neighbor who is a carpenter that he should give up his work truck for a Schwin. In today’s world, both men and women have to work (actually been this way for about 40 years), which means both members of a couple need transportation, because (REALITY CHECK) not everyone works right off of a SEPTA stop.
Here is a simple solution. If you dont like the neighborhood, move to one you like. I dont want to sound like I am anti-newcomer. We are eager for new people to move in, but the newcomers should be people who want to live in South Philly because they like South Philly. South Philly has traditions that go back generations, going back to our parents, great-grandparents, and so on.
If you’re going to whine about parking on the median, getting offended by the Mummers, not enough grass and trees on your street, the deli on the corner not offering organic, gluten free, vegan soy whatever, then go live somewhere else.
Wah
I didn’t realize “parking illegally” was such a time-honored tradition.
I have a “big boy” job, Ray. It’s amazing how easy it is to put on a tie and suit jacket after you’ve biked into the office.
And actually, you’ve pretty much written a blog post here, so you’re well on your way to being a blogger!
I am South Philly born and bred, I have a job outside the city which I drive to every day in my car that I park on the street, and I have watched South Philly (particularly Passyunk) transform as a result of these “hipsters or millennials or gentrifiers” in such a positive way that it makes me NEVER want to leave. Say what you will about them, but I am sure the value of your house wouldn’t be what it is without them. You wouldn’t have the diverse restaurant and bar options without them. Your block wouldn’t be as clean without them. I guarantee you they don’t all work at Starbucks…I don’t know many Starbucks employees who could afford a $400K house. I’ll take this version of South Philly over the one I grew up in any day of the week! No one is suggesting that you give up your car…but if you have 3 cars and you are a 2 person household, maybe consider selling one and support some beautification of Broad St.
You’re suggesting we give up our cars. Yes.
One car families are just as frustrated as anyone else if they come home from work later than 6 or 7 pm and have to park 5 blocks away.
Ew, a 5 block walk… the horror.
Not a horror for a male in his prime. No. But does your Mom live here? How old is she? Did any of your older loved ones ever get mugged for their purse? So.. While you’re making wise cracks, hopefully some readers in these comments sections haven’t lost the use of their empathy genes…
Haha. Just sort of.
How about newcomers not liking people getting away with illegal parking. It’s not really asking that much. Traditions are traditions, but when they are illegal they should stop.
Also, there are very few places in the entire city that you can not get to on septa. But omg, I have to transfer from a bus to another bus? Talk about the entitled generation.
When we host the Super Bowl or the Olympics, or the DNC.. Then I can understand having to move the cars. Otherwise, it is a much needed place to park in a city that is growing.
It would be nice though, if some people would be open to supporting parking garages like they have in Miami…
Google Image Search: “1111 Lincoln Drive, Miami”
Its a smart way to solve parking problems. It is also built in a way that is more pleasing to the eye. Open mindedness required.
Here’s what we should do: Make the median permit parking only so people from NJ or other neighborhoods can’t squat in the middle of Broad Street and abandon their car, or use free parking and take SEPTA into center city every day from the burbs or South Jersey.
But to get rid of median parking all together because “It’s Illegal” is an awful argument. There are roughly 300 spots from Broad and Washington to Broad and Oregon by using the median. As a lifelong resident, please for the Love of God do not totally get rid of 300 parking spaces. Parking is horrible enough around here. If you’re going to get rid the median parking on Broad, that better come with a promise of 3 surface lots of FREE parking for residents of South Philadelphia.
Yes. Enforcing a law is an awful argument.
Enforcing a bad law is what you are arguing. In south carolina, it is still legal to beat your wife, as long as it is on the court house steps… Pray tell…Should they continue enforcing that law…??? Smh at you absolutist one size fits all types…
Enforcing a law that eliminates 300 parking spaces in south philly would be a very bad law to enforce.
They just invented some loophole in our alcoholic beverages laws so that distributors can sell you 12-packs… They are avoiding the original spirit of the law there because it is for the good of the consumer who does not need to buy a case every time. Should they enforce our old wrong headed alcohol law though? I think not…