Philadelphia
Basics
Update: Philadelphia Did NOT Eliminate America’s Best Free Transit Program!
The City of Brotherly Love has been giving free rides of tens of thousands of low-income residents — but the money might be about to dry up.
April 9, 2025
Talking Headways Podcast: Bulk Transit Passes for All
Jawnt's Ruth Miller on how employer transit pass programs like SEPTA's work to support employees, agencies and regions overall.
December 12, 2024
What the Media is Getting Wrong About the Gaudreau Brothers’ Deaths
It made national headlines when these two professional hockey players and brothers were killed on their bikes. The systemic failures that lead to their deaths, though, didn't generate nearly as much press.
September 4, 2024
Philly Advocates Score Initial Win In Fight for Safer Bike Lanes
The death of Dr. Barbara Friedes is spurring change on the Philadelphia road where she was killed while biking – and hopefully, elsewhere in the City of Brotherly Love, too.
August 29, 2024
Philadelphia Demands More Than ‘Flex-Post’ Protected Bike Lanes After Motorist Kills Cyclist
Pediatric oncologist Barbara Friedes was struck while biking on a "protected" path. Now, advocates are arguing that flex posts should be replaced with something far better.
July 22, 2024
Talking Headways Podcast: The Annual Yonah Freemark Show, Part II
This week, let's talk about transit funding in general and the Roosevelt Boulevard subway in Philadelphia, specifically.
February 22, 2024
Philly Gives City Workers Free Transit. Can Other Cities Follow?
It's sure to be a boon for SEPTA, the environment, and city employees’ quality of life, but can it be a model for other cities?
September 7, 2023
So Much for ‘Carmageddon’ (Philadelphia Edition)
More capacity generates more travel, more sprawl, more pollution, and ultimately more congestion. It’s time to get off this treadmill.
Joe Cortright
June 13, 2023
Biden’s First ‘Mega Grants’ Contain Some Mega Wins — And Mega Fails
A new federal "megagrant" program will fund major safety and transit projects that have been at the top of sustainable transportation advocates' wishlists for years ... along with business-as-usual highway expansion projects that could negate those mega-gains.
February 6, 2023
Why Do People With Disabilities Have to Sue To Get Accessible Sidewalks?
Philadelphia is the latest U.S. city to agree to make its sidewalks accessible to people who use assistive devices — though the win would be more significant if people with mobility challenges weren't so often forced to sue to get basic access to the places where they live.
November 14, 2022