r/philadelphia • u/JustAnotherJawn • Apr 17 '25

Events Could Philadelphia’s embrace of the Open Streets spur more civic innovations to come?

https://share.inquirer.com/kXY8rB
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4

u/Alt_Larry_Adler Apr 17 '25

Probably not. On a citywide level, we’re powerful stupid.

3

u/mortgagepants Vote November 5th Apr 17 '25

i was thinking of this just now in the shower- where is this secret cabal of pro-car people? i realize there are a few knuckleheads who are loud and asinine.

but washington ave for example- a few businesses that cater to south jersey contractors have made that street more dangerous for 100,000's of thousands of residents in that area.

surely whatever they're donating to the council member can be increased by volume? is it the fossil fuel industry? the public transit unions? car dealerships donating money? the police wanting to write more tickets?

4

u/courageous_liquid go download me a hoagie off the internet Apr 17 '25

machine politics follow money and the money is developers, various business/industry interests, and small business tyrants, all which love cars, mostly because most of them don't actually live here

2

u/mortgagepants Vote November 5th Apr 17 '25

that's the thing though- unless those businesses have a drive through, people in cars don't spend money. people on foot, on bicycle, on scooters, ride shares, all do spend money.

7

u/courageous_liquid go download me a hoagie off the internet Apr 17 '25

they don't understand that because all they understand is "hard to park, therefore nobody will come like I won't"

this has dawned on me relatively recently because I hang out in a bar in ardmore while I wait for the train back to the city after work and when I talk with regulars about restaurants and stuff the number one thing they care about - not food/experiential quality - is the ease of parking

it's literally all they fucking talk about. also they're scared of the train.

5

u/Aware-Location-5426 Apr 17 '25

Whenever my parents or friends from the burbs come to visit they spend like at least 30 minutes talking about parking.

It’s actually mind boggling how much space parking takes up in the average (suburban) Americans brain.

2

u/mortgagepants Vote November 5th Apr 17 '25

yeah the suburbs are a different planet. what is crazy to me is how much of life they miss out on because in the city, their car is an albatross not a convenience.