If you've designed a "park" and you include so much asphalt that every intersection ends up looking like this, you've messed up:

Fairmount Park is one Philadelphia's most underused assets, because it's not designed to be safe or usable as a park. Since 2019 41 people have been killed by crashes in the park. @bikeaction.org is trying to fix that. Sign their petition to call for a safer park: bikeaction.org/campaigns/de...

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission publishes a tool that shows where sidewalks are missing: www.dvrpc.org/webmaps/side... Embarrassingly Philadelphia's worst area is Fairmount Park which has many roads without any sidewalks.

The biggest issue with Philadelphia's Fairmount Park is that it's far too difficult to walk or bike to from nearby neighborhoods, and hard to get around once you're there. It was much better in the past! A thread with a few examples from Google Maps:

SEPTA GM Scott Sauer has a message for riders, employees, and our region: full service is secured for 2 years—but it’s only a short-term fix. We still need a long-term funding solution. Watch his update. #ISEPTAPHILLY #HowWeRoll #FundSEPTA

Thought-provoking commentary from Inga Saffron. A delightful new space on a road that's meant to be a place of great civic pride, and yet Philadelphia has often seemed unsure of what it wants to be proud of. Saffron praises the new space and rightfully asks: where does the Parkway go next?

I honestly don’t have enough luminous, magical spirit caves in my life.

It's great to see the Philadelphia Cycling Classic returning! Big events like this that show off uniquely Philly places like Fairmount Park, Manayunk, and the Art Museum are great for the city. www.inquirer.com/sports/phila...

Visiting Seattle and I’m very jealous of their abundant downtown protected bike lanes… Not so much the weather.

Harry Fenton, himself an advocate for bike safety in Philadelphia, was killed by a speeding hit & run driver while biking through Fairmount Park: www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia... Fairmount Park is tragically decades overdue for safety improvements for people biking and walking.

WE DID IT!!! 82 hours. 201,701 steps. Countless stories and supporters along the way. I’m proud, I’m sore, and I’m more certain than ever: Pennsylvanians won’t stop until we #FundTransit.

Today's Acela launch will drive Amtrak NEC profitability, even as the 27% capacity boost cuts dynamically priced fares At first it seems they'll use the faster trains to "pad" existing schedules, boosting on-time performance After observation they should be speeding up the official schedules!

First Frank Farry went on a conservative talk show to complain he's getting personally criticized for supporting SEPTA's defunding, now the Republicans are complaining when constituents contact them. If you're a politician and you don't want to hear from constituents you're doing something wrong.

This is why public transit across Pennsylvania will start collapsing tomorrow. Unclear what can be done—Dems already passed bills with all of GOP's demands—other than for Dems to retaliate against rural funding and services until the GOP stops attacking urban areas. humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...

I don't agree with this take because I believe Musk wants to use Twitter to addict people to an endless stream of slop and anger and then manipulate the algorithms to guide public opinion at key moments.

Joe Picozzi: "I think people are sick of political theater ... and most reasonable people recognize I am a freshman senator. I can't bring anything to the floor. I can't force them to vote on anything." Actually he can! If Picozzi and the 2 other SE PA Republicans chose to they can force a vote.

One of the arguments I often see conservatives make is that public transit should be privatized. That might work, but only if roads, highways, and parking were privatized as well! In Japan many transit companies are private but so are expressways and so is parking.

Joe Picozzi published an Op-Ed that makes it very difficult to believe he's operating in good faith about transit funding. He pretends Democrats have not proposed new revenue, but it was Republicans who shot down a 'skill games' tax and marijuana legalization. southphillyreview.com/2025/08/19/o...

Protestors occupied Joe Picozzi's office today to ask him to represent his own constituents instead of rural Republicans: www.inquirer.com/transportati... Picozzi's transit funding plan would destroy SEPTA and he has yet to acknowledge that it's an unworkable plan.

With SEPTA cuts Amtrak is saying it may be forced to cut Keystone Service between Harrisburg, Philly, and NYC: www.inquirer.com/politics/sep... This would significantly impact tourism and business commuters. It would drive up Amtrak prices for anyone who travels between DC, Philly, NYC, and Boston.

The first day of school is right around the corner, and parents are gearing up to deal with the dreaded drop off and pickup streets. Learn about one school that closed off that area to vehicular traffic.

This is why raiding SEPTA's capital funds to fund rural roads and short term transit funding is unconscionable. Under Picozzi's plan SEPTA might run for a year or two, and then without replacements for its ancient trains it will never run properly again: www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/s...

PA Senate Republicans fled the state capitol FOR WEEKS. Then the GOP came back for a few hours, to pass a bill that DEFUNDED mass transit agencies & immediately went on vacation again. Now transit in one of the largest 🚅🚇metros in the country is about to be severely cut. 🤯

Picozzi continues to put party over constituents, as shown in his latest interview on SEPTA: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuI-... He continues to refuse to answer how raiding transit capital funds, and giving $419 million to rural highways, will not imperil SEPTA's future.

The PA Republican strategy right now appears to be lying to constituents about their transit funding 'bill' being a solution, even while their leader Pittman implied the bill is a form of revenge. Most disappointing is that Picozzi, Farry, and Pennycuick who represent SE PA are going along with it.

Transit Tuesdays is kicking off at Republican Senator Picozzi’s office! Join riders citywide to push for SEPTA funding. Tuesday, August 19, 5:30 – 7pm EDT Senator Joe Picozzi's District Office 12361 Academy Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154

Rural & urban PA have different priorities, and rural Republican politicians in PA would rather not share tax dollars with urban needs. To accomplish that goal Rep. Melissa Shusterman has proposed separating taxes and spending by region: www.palegis.us/house/co-spo...

It is very discouraging that every PA Republican that represents areas served by transit is insisting that gutting transit's capital budget to fund operations (and highways!) is OK, even when transit agencies say it's unworkable. Every one of them is putting their party over their constituents.

SEPTA Regional Rail experienced significant delays and cancellations today due to its oldest-in-the-nation trains, some dating back to the Nixon Administration: wwww.septa.org/news/regiona... SE PA state senators Joe Picozzi and Frank Farry believe cancelling replacements to fund rural roads is OK.

For folks in Philly who want to let Senator Picozzi know their thoughts on SEPTA funding he'll be answering questions at a government open house from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM today in NE Philly. It starts in about an hour: northeasttimes.com/2025/08/12/n...

Senate Majority Leader Pittman’s response to calls for transit funding.

We're just gonna say it: this proposal sucks! Our position is that this proposal is deeply unserious and doesn't contain a long-term funding solution for SEPTA. Raiding our capital dollars to pay for operations is a lose-lose proposition for everyone, not just Philly!

Remember this for when he is up for re-election. Seek an opponent in his district, have them get to know the area and gotv.

Joe Picozzi has promised SEPTA funding, and now he's posting that he's done it! But he's celebrating alone. The proposal he backs would dangerously pillage SEPTA's long-term capital $. SEPTA and Philly reps have rightfully rejected it, but Picozzi seems to be hoping his constituents won't notice.

Senator Saval nails it in this video. Reallocating transit capital funds is service cuts by another name.

Pennsylvania Senate Republicans are proposing two years of spending for mass transit. But SEPTA says it would make things worse. The move likely means that the state’s seven-week budget impasse continues.

Sen. Picozzi and PA Senate Republicans have put out a transit funding bill that essentially forces Pennsylvania transit to "fund" itself by cancelling replacements for broken infrastructure. Republican leader Pittman implies this is a form of retribution and says "Doesn't feel so good does it".

How did the districts represented by these Republicans perform in 2022's governor election when Shapiro won? Farry (District 6): Democrats won +17.1% Pennycuick (24): Ds won +13.6% Picozzi (5): Ds won +24.5% These seats, and their majority, are far less safe than they're acting.

This needs to be the narrative now. If Frank Farry, Tracy Pennycuick, and Joe Picozzi do not defend their constituents from attacks by the state then they should expect tremendous opposition. If PA Republicans refuse to represent SE PA then SE PA will not elect them as representatives.

It is discouraging to me that so few of the politicians who represent Philadelphia, including Gov. Shapiro, will firmly commit to only pass a budget with transit funding. Keeping alive the largest city in the state should be an obvious non-negotiable. I don't know what they gain from timidity.

Live | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro with riders and workers on the SEPTA Cuts: share.google/vcswD7lX28K7...

If homes are expected to be a strong investment, and appreciate faster than inflation, then home prices will take on an ever growing % of living costs. It's unsustainable for housing to indefinitely grow as a % of living costs, but it's politically difficult to unravel it as an investment.

Tagging in @broadandmarket.gobirds.online @denadriscoll.bsky.social @laurenrinaldi.bsky.social @palsgraf.bsky.social @civicgrit.bsky.social @garlicbuffalo.gobirds.biz Looking for SEPTA workers who have a stage-talent for a transit show

We're holding a celebration of public transit/benefit show & looking for SEPTA employees who also have a fun skill they'd like to show off. Do you know a bus driver who can play a musical instrument? Do you know a rail machinist who can juggle? Send em my way! gettingbare.eventbrite.com

ANNOUNCING: We're thrilled to share that Open Streets: West Walnut returns this fall! Join us on Sundays from September 7 through October 12 as we transform Rittenhouse Row into a vibrant pedestrian paradise. For more information: bit.ly/46RsSDT

I waited until the video was uploaded to see the rational for denying this. Very little reasoning was articulated. It was OK-ed by the Council member, the local community, and the city's planners but some on the ZBA seemed uncomfortable with a low-ceiling comedy club, even if code compliant.

Great article on the success of Philly's 'Open Streets'. What I love about Open Streets is it's like a street festival for community. Instead of food trucks and loud music it's about kids playing, local businesses, and catching up with friends. www.cityandstatepa.com/policy/2025/...

Trying to cheer myself up with some Dining Under the Stars content I took today. I felt a rush of energy walking through everyone having a great time.

This is a good article. As Philadelphia's Historical Commission stretches its authority it continues to lose its important fights and 'win' the unimportant ones. Churches are torn down while home owners are forced to pay $8k for a front door. billypenn.com/2025/08/06/p...

A list of the 16 zip code tabulation areas in the US with greater than 10% of commuters biking to work. Filtered to only areas with more than 10k total commuters, and using 2019-2023 5 year ACS estimates. #16 Portland, Oregon's 97215 with 10% biking to work