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.
🏛️ WE WENT TO HARRISBURG
Yesterday, we went to Harrisburg with the Bicycle Coalition, PA Safe Roads PAC, and Families for Safe Streets to show our support for safer streets for all.
We had many great conversations with legislators and their staff about the need for legalizing parking protected bike lanes and Jay Alerts.
Our city's vast transit network is an incredible asset--but restrictive zoning around transit stops prevents us from taking full advantage of it!
Homes near frequent transit provide valuable access to car-free transportation, but the areas around our transit stations are far too often filled with parking lots and drive-thrus.
Bill 260517
is a step in the right direction towards fixing this, but it only applies to 13 stations on the L.
But there's a little known barrier working against them: insurance costs.
The City requires that stewards of public spaces--parklets, streeteries, pedestrian plazas--hold insurance, and that they indemnify the city in the event of lawsuits.
This has high costs, and the evidence suggests it's not even needed!
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.
The bill covers just 13 stations, all on the Market-Frankford Line. Most Philadelphians do not live near the El. I think about the family in the Northeast that cannot reach a steady job without a second car. I think about the retiree near Broad Street who cannot easily get to one of our region’s best hospitals. If the zoning change stops there, we will have passed a good policy and confined it to a footprint too small to reach them.
The Mayor and City Council should reject the flat fee, accept the percentage-based structure, and advocate for a rate high enough to actually matter. The reason to get this right goes beyond this year’s school budget. Philadelphia, and every other American city, has a narrow window to establish sound rideshare tax policy before widespread autonomous vehicles make it politically much harder.
–5th Square Advocacy Treasurer Russell Richie
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🏫 UNIVERSAL STUDENT FARES PETITION
Sign this petition
to support expanding student transit cards to cover more students and provide transit access on evenings, weekends, and summers.
✍️ TRAIL SURVEY
Take this quick, 3-minute survey
to help the Bicycle Coalition and Circuit Trails understand how you use trails throughout the region.
🚲 LEGALIZE PARKING-PROTECTED BIKE LANES
Parking-protected bike lanes are a great way to make our bikes lanes safer and lower stress, but they are illegal on state roads! Sign the Bicycle Coalition's petition to legalize parking-protected bike lanes!
5:30 PM · Resurrection Philadelphia, 123 S 17th St
Join the Bicycle Coalition and Transit Forward Philly to celebrate wins in bike advocacy, Circuit Trails, transit, and pedestrian safety! BCGP Policy Director Julio Rodriguez will share policy priorities for 2026, and attendees will discuss ideas for the coming year.
The Philly Running Alliance is hosting a team race where runners compete for their chosen local running club, featuring races of varying length through historic West Fairmount Park.
5th Square Advocacy is a grassroots nonprofit organization driven to advance a vision for a more accessible, sustainable, equitable Philadelphia for all residents. Donations are not tax deductible.
