by KYW’s Steve Tawa
The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) is installing bicycle parking racks at garages and a lot it operates, to help ease Center City congestion.
The bike racks are in garages at 2nd and Sansom, 10th and Ludlow, the Market Street East Gallery, and the 15th and Arch surface lot. Each of the racks accommodates around a dozen bikes.
The PPA was unable to install bicycle racks in one key garage it operates, the Independence Mall underground, because there was no easy way to get bikes in and out of there. The ramps leading down to the garage only accommodate vehicles.
Sarah Clark Stuart is with the bicycle coalition of greater Philadelphia:
“Philadelphia needs thousands of more racks, if it's going to be a sustainable and green city, and we hope that others, including agencies and private property owners will follow the authority's example.”
The PPA's Vince Fenerty says the authority just wants to help:
“Parking is our market, but there's congestion in Center City, which needs to be controlled.”
The bicycle coalition would like to see property managers install bike parking facilities across the city. It also wants the zoning code to be amended to require new residence and office buildings to set aside bike parking space.