Bike Lane and supporters of road safety were applauded by the President of the Council Kenyatta Johnson at the Vision Zero conference on Friday, about three years after he won their anger for killing a project exposed to the road to the Washington Avenue part in southern Philadelphia.
In a speech that city group 5. Urban group described as “Really amazing“Johnson swore to fight for more financing of the zero vision project in the city budget, called for” a real departure from car addiction, “and said that Philly should follow the Paris leader in determining the priorities of” pure mobility “, such as bike and transit.
“I know that some people said:” But you didn’t support protected bicycle paths on Washington Avenue. So how can you make sure that we will be a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city? “-said Johnson, who had a bicycle-shaped pink when he spoke. “And I always say:” Well, listen, do not make one act to determine who I am as an individual. “
He noticed that last year he helped secure the adoption of the bicycle law, which prohibits cars from stopping on bicycle lines, and lobbyed members of the council to take over the entire city, not just its district.
The annual conference carried out by the Bicycle Coalition at Greater Philadelphia included many moments in which security supporters, city planning employees, traffic engineers and others celebrated traffic achievements – as well as confirmation of the continuous number of car accidents and the possibilities of reduced federal financing for projects to improve road improvement.
“Vision zero is a matter of racial justice. We know that roads are definitely more dangerous Black and brown communitieswho falls into the racist crusade of the president in relation to everything that can classify as Dei, “said Jamie Gauthier member.” We should sue him every week, but there is reality until we win, we will have to finance the things we need. “
Greg Krykewycz would cost about $ 2 billion to complete all security projects zero vision in Philadelphia and the region, said Greg Krykewycz, transport director at the Regional Delaware Valley Planning Commission.
Here are some other significant moments from the conference.
Cameras for red lights, speeds, bus stops and others
Several speakers praised the growing apply of automatic law enforcement to ponderous down traffic and reduce illegal parking.
This year it is two decades from the Roosevelt Boulevard’s installation Red lithe cameraswhich send photos of Red Lights runners to Philadelphia Authority parking for a possible ticket. The system was assigned a reduction in fatal road accidents, which is considered the most perilous cities.
The program is “unchanged success – [fewer] Lost life, accidents have fallen, revenues gained and greater vitality for our citizens, “said Senator State Christine Tartaglione. Revenues allocate to financing traffic safety projects in the city.
In 2020, the city also installed Automated speed cameras on the boulevard that slowed down the movement there and it is estimated that he has more than 36 deaths prevented yet. PPA plans to install 30 such cameras on Broad Street this summer Another 42 on route 13which snake several streets in west and northern Philadelphia.
A bill of speed camera in school zones He was stopped During the hearing of the City Council last month, but Johnson said another hearing was planned. “You have my word that the invoice will be fainted from the streets committee,” said applause.
PPA now launches two up-to-date automated law enforcement programs.
This month, the system formed by Hayden AI will start using cameras mounted on Septa buses and trucks for detecting parked vehicles at bus stops, bus lanes and on the stroller routes or are double -boring, and sends photos to the agency for tickets. It will operate at the City City, on the market, chestnut and walnut in West Philly and on all lines of the trolley except for G (previously 15).
Matt Zapson, Setta Planning Manager, said that illegally parked vehicles cause delays and bus congestion and create grave threats to riders, especially people using wheelchairs or have mobility problems.
“You can see how people squeeze between illegally parked cars to get from the pavement to the bus,” he said. “It creates a real risk for them, leaving the pavement, squeezing between cars, waving the bus to see them from behind a pickup or truck.”
PPA also launched 22 this week Intelligent charging zones On chestnut streets, nut and sansom. Delivery companies can sign up for Curbass and pay 10 cents per minute for parking in zones to an hour, which is enforced by the camera system. Unregistered vehicles detected in zones will be ticked $ 51 after a three -minute grace period or USD 76 for double parking.
“Slow down”
Despite the pressure of enforcement, traffic death indicators remain higher in Philadelphia than in many other cities, with over 120 pedestrian, cyclists, vehicle passengers and other killed in accidents annually.
This fee was the subject of the panel in which he included Nereda Jones-Pugh, whose son Nyier “Nas” Cunningham was killed during a hit in 2022, as well as a funeral adviser, a lieutenant lieutenant and a lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents.
Cunningham was a multinational musician, martial arts instructor and the father of juvenile children who was Cycling slow at night Near his house, when he was hit and killed by the person leading the van.
Jones-Pugh, a member of the Safe Streets of Greater Filadelphia, described that he is overwhelmed by the process of responding to his death. She found some consolation in tribute to her son from his immense circle of friends and in favor of safer roads.
“I will beg everyone to satisfy the release, take care of others, take care of safety for myself,” she said. “Wait for the next lithe.
“Making meaning” and the restructuring of the narrative around the lost family member is an integral part of the mourning process, said Jacqualen Agins, a therapist in Montgomery, who works with people who are dealing with a loss. For those whose relatives died in road accidents, which may include the establishment of ghost motorcycles and other monuments, and for some such as Jones-Pugh includes spokesman.
“Spokeswoman is a huge, huge part of creating meaning,” said Agins. “Not every person can go to the spokesperson. You need an extremely unique person to create a combined meaning there.”
Take a nuisance
The next session included residents who were in favor of ponderous zones, bicycle paths, road curling or other traffic safety projects in their districts.
Leonard Bonarek, a planner who worked in a bicycle coalition, described the lobbying of city officials to stop the Repaving project at 48th Street, where he lives, and redesigned with a protected bicycle belt and a up-to-date road belt.
He said that the street saw many accidents in which drivers hit people and houses. He said that he and the neighbor collected over 700 petition signatures, created a video that did not stop for a child who tried to cross the street, and won the support of a member of the council, he said.
“Sometimes you have to get a nuisance,” said Mark Green, democratic 38. The leader of the unit.
Green said that he worked with the state senator Vincent Hughes, his state representative, Penndot and other officials to get traffic sedatives on the Allegheny Avenue section, where two children and two seniors died.
“Stay up to date with people from the city council, selected officials. Stay on a regular basis with a state representative. Because these people represent you. If you don’t pull them responsible, you won’t do anything,” he said. “They want to be chosen again … they will do various things for you.”
Nia Daye of Mercy Neighborhood Ministries in Tioga said she had spent years trying to get Slow zone With speed inequalities, corner clearance and other security measures installed in an area susceptible to the circumscribed by Ontario Street, Erie Avenue and 17 and 22 streets.
After the city initially rejected its application, the project was approved in 2022, and the construction is to start soon. She noticed that the neighbors were very interested and generally supporting the project, but sometimes skeptical like that would happen.
“In general, residents are more involved and want to be more involved than I think people,” she said. At the same time, “people are tired or feel that they are asking for things, or maybe this feeling, for example, it will not end. They are:” You can try. I give up to me. “
