๐Ÿ“ฃ Become a Better Advocate / ๐Ÿ˜๏ธ๐Ÿš Support Homes Near Transit / ๐ŸšŒ Keep Transit Wins in the Budget

April 9, 2026
Weekly Newsletter #20 · April 09, 2026

5th Square Advocacy is an urbanist organization of grassroots advocates building a coalition for better transportation, housing, and public space in Philadelphia. Thanks to our growing network of sustaining members for making this work possible.

๐Ÿ“ฃ BECOME A BETTER ADVOCATE

Want to learn how to be a better advocate for transit and Vision Zero?
Join us for a mobility budget advocacy workshop on April 20th at 5:30pm!
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๐Ÿ˜๏ธ๐Ÿš SUPPORT HOMES NEAR TRANSIT

Help us advocate for more transit-oriented development in Philadelphia!

We're looking for some volunteers to join us in a few small meetings with district councilmembers to talk about the importance of building more homes near transit, specifically in support of adding stations to the Mayor's Transit Oriented Communities Bill.

Fill out this form and we will loop you in with an organizer leading your district, materials, and talking points for your meeting!

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๐ŸšŒ KEEP TRANSIT WINS IN THE BUDGET

We worked hard to get Zero Fare, municipal Key Advantage, and increased resources for SEPTA into the Mayor's budget plan-- help us keep up the pressure on City Council to make these wins a reality!

  1. Take City Council's city budget survey.
  2. Sign up for a hearing at City Hall
  3. Join a neighborhood budget town hall
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๐Ÿšฒ IT'S TOO HARD TO INSTALL A BIKE RACK

Bike racks are good for our city and we need more of them. So why does the City make them so hard to install?

Philly Bike Action has done some great work showing how bad this problem is.

Read more about it from Billy Penn:  Philly’s bicycle rack and corral applications are ‘too onerous,’ advocates say

๐Ÿ“š LIFE AFTER CARS BOOK TALK

Get your tickets before they sell out!

Thursday, May 14 at 7 PM — Spend an evening with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, hosts of the War on Cars podcast and authors of Life After Cars. They'll discuss the negative impacts of car-dependency and how we can build safer, more livable streets in Philadelphia.

Get Your Ticket Today

๐Ÿ™๏ธ OPEN STREETS THIS WEEKEND

This Sunday , portions of Walnut and 18th Streets in the Rittenhouse area will be car-free from 10am to 5pm as part of Center City District's  West Walnut Open Streets.

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and see how great our city can be when our streets put people first.

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๐Ÿ‘‹ BECOME A MEMBER

Thank you to everyone who has already joined as a member! Our members fuel our grassroots work for a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia.

BECOME A MEMBER

๐Ÿ“ฐ 5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS

Broad + Liberty / Russell Richie: Philadelphia's job-killing wage tax — and a better alternative

๐Ÿšจ ACTION ITEMS

๐ŸŒณ SHAPE OUR FUTURE TRAIL NETWORK

The City is working on a new Trail Master Plan and they're looking for your feedback! They want to know how you use trails and how you think the existing trail network can be improved.  Take their survey here!

๐Ÿ“…  EVENTS

Apr 09

Fully Funded CCP - Press Conference

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ·  CCP Bonnell Courtyard, 1700 Spring Garden St

Join Transit Forward Philly as they rally with the Community College of Philadelphia Federation of Staff, Student and Community Leaders to support their fight for SEPTA passes.
Apr 15

SEPTA Annual Service Plan Open House & Public Hearing #1

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM · 1234 Market St, hearing virtual via Webex

In-person only open house at 11am, followed by a hybrid public hearing at 12pm as SEPTA prepares to roll out New Bus Network.
Apr 15

SEPTA Annual Service Plan Open House & Public Hearing #2

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · 1234 Market St, hearing virtual via Webex

In-person only open house at 5pm, followed by a hybrid public hearing at 6pm.
Apr 20

Philly Mobility Advocacy Training

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM · Transit Forward Philly Office, 1500 Walnut St
Ste 1107

Join us, the People's Budget Office, Transit Forward Philadelphia, The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and Philly Bike Action for a mobility budget advocacy workshop. We'll equip you with the skills needed to become a more effective advocate for public transit,.
Apr 20

The Big Dig Podcast Live

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Pen and Pencil, 1522 Latimer St

Every American city is divided by crumbling old highways. Every city is trying to figure out what to do with them. Join Ian Coss, host of the Peabody-Award winning podcast “The Big Dig” – along with special guests – for a live taping about Philadelphia’s own attempts to solve that puzzle, and undo the harms of the past.
May 14

Life After Cars Book Talk

7:00 PM, doors open 6:30 PM · Resurrection Philadelphia, 123 S. 17th St

Spend an evening with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, hosts of the War on Cars podcast and authors of Life After Cars. They'll discuss the negative impacts of car-dependency and how we can build safer, more livable streets in Philadelphia.

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