Today’s announcement from Gov. Shapiro spending $30 million in state funds for Stadium District roadways is a major disappointment when SEPTA is still facing a long-term funding crisis threatening transit service

Thanks @pasenatorsaval.com and @ingasaffron.bsky.social for joining us at our LIFE AFTER CARS live show in Philadelphia! And thank you @5thsqadvocacy.org and @bikeaction.org for hosting us. And thanks to everyone who came to the show. Philly was our 30th city since we kicked things off in October!

This was a ton of fun. Definitely the biggest ride we've participated in since book tour began. Philly knows how to show up!

Our friends @5thsqadvocacy.org & @bikeaction.org are hosting a book event Th May 14th 7pm at Resurrection Philadelphia. Tickets are still available: they’ll discuss the negative affects of car-dependency & how we can make Philadelphia a more people-centered city. bsky.app/profile/thew...

We expect special guests on this ride: Doug Gordon + Sarah Goodyear, The War on Cars podcast co-hosts & authors of recently released book Life After Cars. bsky.app/profile/thew...

It will be a BLAST! Tickets: www.5thsqadvocacy.org/LAC

🚇 In council today in support for CM Landau’s resolution for hearings on expanding SEPTA student fares. Let’s get these fare cards working nights, weekends and summers! @ruephilacouncil.bsky.social @transit4philly.bsky.social

We joined @transit4philly.bsky.social and @ruephilacouncil.bsky.social at City Hall yesterday in support of making student SEPTA passes work 24/7, year-round. These cards don’t work nights, weekends and summers. That’s a policy choice — and it can be a different one.

It's common sense to allow Philadelphians to build generational wealth and age in place by adding bonus units (ADUs). This is one way we can prevent displacement and create affordable housing in one go. share.inquirer.com/geX7Mb

Grateful for the opportunity to meet the Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, and discuss our support for Transit-Oriented Communities. More homes near transit means more riders for SEPTA, lower transportation costs for residents, and more families able to put down roots in the city.

✨We're proud to share our first-ever strategic plan!✨ The plan centers our three issues: Housing & Land Use, Public Transportation, and Roadway Safety. It also marks a turning point for us. We're hiring our first Executive Director in 2026! Check it out! www.5thsqadvocacy.org/announcing-o...

💳🚍 HUGE TRANSIT WINS! Mayor Parker announced: • $25M - Zero Fare Program funding restored! • $10M - SEPTA Key Advantage for municipal employees restored! • 10% increase in city funding for SEPTA! @transit4philly.bsky.social

Housing would be better

🌳🏙️ We’re seeking our first Executive Director to lead our mission for a more accessible and equitable Philadelphia. Know a strategic leader ready to fight for better urbanism? Apply here: www.5thsqadvocacy.org/ED

These bills are a welcome step toward more housing near transit, but their scope doesn't quite address our massive housing shortage. The entire Broad Street Line, Regional Rail, and trolley network aren't covered, and parking mandates near transit remain intact. 1/

“Not all of Vision Zero’s barriers emerge from Harrisburg. Many are a symptom of dysfunction right here in Philadelphia”

War on Cars is coming to Philly! Presale is open to 5th Square Advocacy members today. Become a member today and get your tickets ⬇️ 5thsq.app.neoncrm.com/forms/member...

Also star-struck by their cameo at our holiday party!

The test street art bus times sign by artist Make It Weird is gone from 8th and Wharton Streets. And in its place a new sign including artwork by Badly Drawn Buses and custom mount support by Lac Arts. So exciting to see this project grow and continue to support Philly’s public transit riders!

Thank you to the 100 folks who attended our first ever Urbanist PowerPoint Party last night! We had a great time deep diving into just a few topics covering our built environment.

Homes are in high demand, especially with Philly being a close-to-NYC city with Pennsylvania pricing! Office Towers are not in high demand anymore. Mixed use would probably be best and future proof the site. Commercial only zoning would be bad!

Unbelievable that City Council would even consider a home ban on one of the most transit-accessible parcels in our city. Sign our petition today to ask Councilmember Young to withdraw his bill and support mixed-use development for the Hahnemann Hospital site.

Just added the Build More Housing! sticker to my laptop. Thanks @5thsqadvocacy.org! You can get one by becoming a member! www.5thsqadvocacy.org/membership

This is what political courage looks like

UPDATE! A few weeks back we launched this petition with @transit4philly.bsky.social asking for priority for diverted trolley riders in West Philly stuck in traffic — and SEPTA responded!

I finally got a Christmas tree! And of course, I got my #treebybike! 🎄🚴‍♂️ @bikeaction.org @bcgp.bsky.social @5thsqadvocacy.org

🎉 What a blast celebrating the 2025 Urbanist award winners! Huge thanks to everyone who made our holiday party unforgettable!

Thank you @5thsqadvocacy.org for the Urbanist Changemaker Award! I am glad I was able to send my acceptance speech as I am all over the place these days. As a small town Mayor-Elect, street safety, transit access and traffic calming are so important to a community. www.instagram.com/reel/DSL3yIR...

Honored to receive the 5th Square Advocacy Urbanist Lifetime Achievement Award! Calling it a “lifetime” award in my 40s feels ambitious, but I’ll happily take it as motivation to keep pushing for better cities, better policy, and better outcomes.

@5thsqadvocacy.org are cool people. I've never seen so many in SEPTA swag. Incredibly proud to be a member and happy to be there.

Our Holiday Party and Awards Ceremony is TONIGHT! Get your tickets here ⬇️ 5thsq.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/ne...

Really cool #WeekWithoutDriving comic about the reality of asking for rides. (The advocates at Philadelphia's @5thsqadvocacy.org are awesome!)

Nice Perk! Get yours too by becoming a member! Link ⬇️ www.5thsqadvocacy.org/Membership

“It’s a travesty that one deep-pocketed opponent has been able to block access to housing for over 100 families in my neighborhood for years. It’s more expensive than ever to rent or buy here, and this project would be a welcome change to its current use as a derelict warehouse.”

Harrisburg has, once again, failed to fund public transit. Agencies like SEPTA are forced to raid their capital funds to run daily service. This is akin to burning pieces of your house in the fireplace to keep warm.

As a former Philly-area teen (go Aces), I'm particularly excited for this book talk! The area holds a special place in my heart. It's where I started regularly riding transit by myself (the R5 into Center City & Amtrak to visit friends in MD), plus it's where I first got hit by a car while biking!

Join us and Transit Forward Philadelphia for a book talk with Author Carter Lavin THIS Thursday at 6 PM From safer streets to faster trains, the changes you want are possible—and transportation advocate Carter Lavin can show you how to make them real. RSVP⬇️ 5thsq.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/ne...

Secretary Duffy says that SEPTA management is to blame for the recent train fires. But the problem isn’t bad management — it’s bad math, and decades of underinvestment to transit agencies across the country, @5thsqadvocacy.org and @transit4philly.bsky.social argue.

Announcing 5th Square Advocacy! A new non-profit to house the work of urbanist grassroots organizing, issue advocacy, and engagement with elected officials — locally in Philly and statewide in Pennsylvania. Join us here ⬇️

Bringing intercity buses back to a proper terminal is a recognition that people deserve more than a curb under a highway overpass — they deserve shelter, dignity and respect.

This lack of safe infrastructure and this driver behavior is what led to the death of Dr. Barbara Friedes last year on the same street. These are not isolated incidents.

Absolutely deadly behavior causing another crash on Spruce Street at 5th st early this morning. This is on the busiest bike lane in Philly with over 1,500 riders who use it daily. We deserve so much better than paint and flexposts, we deserve real protection.

Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park has been engineered to remove most pedestrian crossings and amenities, to speed up traffic. A thread with 8 examples of things that have been lost, with historical images. South to north. 1. A staircase from the river trail to the Girard Ave Bridge, and Brewerytown:

Someone on the @5thsq.org Slack asked about urbanist museums. I've been to a lot! I consider a museum "urbanist" if it tells the story of urban society or culture. Typically architecture, transit, and city museums meet that requirement. Here are the ones I've been to and recommend!

@5thsq.org is having its next meetup this coming Tuesday:) www.5thsq.org/sept2025

Hi @npr.org! We worked late tonight putting together this handy pocket guide! It doesn't address road design issues, but if we're going to educate road users, we should include drivers. It's the size of a folded business card. Print it, fold it, put it in your wallet!

The wealthiest people in Philly have hijacked a local civic org and has effectively turned it into a funnel for money to fight roadway safety citywide. 😡

Take this post as our permission to wear this shirt all day, every day! Go Birds.

Thank you for putting together this SEPTA-themed burlesque and inviting us!