Philadelphia Transportation & SEPTAHow we get around this city - above ground, underground, bike, train, foot, you name it heres the place to discuss it.
I may, but I think a protest/rally would get more attention/results than just one powerless citizen/rat who they could blow off.
More of my point is so that way you know what their stance and plans are before a protest/rally. I am not saying to not protest, was just recommending to get the official stance before you do it so if the press does ask questions, you know the appropriate talking points.
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Maybe Adam sent me on a fool's errand. I had assumed I would be able to readily find her number.
Her email address is Rina.Cutler@phila.gov. I've emailed her explained what has happened to us and asking for a resolution to our parking problem. We'll see if I actually get a response.
More of my point is so that way you know what their stance and plans are before a protest/rally. I am not saying to not protest, was just recommending to get the official stance before you do it so if the press does ask questions, you know the appropriate talking points.
I agree, we should know what their stance is first. If they are against all scooter parking except at meters that is one thing. But if there was miscommunication with this "memo" that went out, then it is another.
More of my point is so that way you know what their stance and plans are before a protest/rally. I am not saying to not protest, was just recommending to get the official stance before you do it so if the press does ask questions, you know the appropriate talking points.
I scooter into Center City for work on a pretty regular basis and I just want to thank you for looking into this. I didn't get a ticket today but I will definitely keep an eye open.
I am up for a rally/protest when we have all the information.
I scooter into Center City for work on a pretty regular basis and I just want to thank you for looking into this. I didn't get a ticket today but I will definitely keep an eye open.
I am up for a rally/protest when we have all the information.
I'll give Rina a call on Monday....
Thanks Again!
-Amie
Send emails too. The more we make a point, the better.
__________________ In amore e in guerra tutto e lecito.
Wanted to let everyone know that I and another scooter rider met with Stephen Buckley (Director of Transportation) and Richard Dickson (PPA) a few weeks ago to discuss the coming scooter parking changes. Here is the summary of the meeting:
* Richard said that scooters would no longer be allowed to park on the sidewalks (in commercial areas where on street scooter parking has been made available) as it was deemed that they were too dangerous
* Long-term scooter parking would be provided in the commercial sector at half the cost of a car. The process of setting up these meters seems to be underway. Richard stated that there will be meters that take quarters right in front of each spot that can be used or one can use the kiosks to pay the meter and tape the paid ticket to your scooter. It is understood that neither of these solutions is ideal as one has to either carry a ton of quarters or risk someone removing your paid ticket from your scooter. Not sure if there has been a better solution to this issue
* We expressed our concern that that price of the scooter parking is not fair at half the price of a car as 4 scooters spots can fit in one car spot. In my opinion they are effectively charging scooters more per square foot than cars even though scooters provide many benefits (lower gas consumption, less congestion, etc) than cars do. We proposed that the price for scooters be 1/4 the cost of car parking and still believe this is the fair thing to do.
* We also expressed concern that scooter owners would no longer be able to lock up their scooters and this could result in more theft. They understood this issue and said they were looking into potential solutions.
* In addition, Richard also mentioned that his longer-term goal is to apply these rules to all commercial areas in center city (river to river, Bainbridge to Spring Garden)
We also asked Richard and Stephen to please clearly communicate the new rules to scooters owners via their website before they began ticketing.
Since that time (as mentioned in this forum) the PPA has begun ticketing scooters on sidewalks ($76 per ticket) in the commercial area with no communication via its website. In addition, the scooter parking spots have been created but the quarter meters have not been installed and the kiosks have not yet been programmed for scooter so it is still not possible to park in a properly paid for motorcycle spot. I have sent an email to Richard and Stephen asking them to post the new scooter parking rules and to set up the scooter parking meters properly. Hopefully they will respond next week.
All that being said, I still believe the price they are charging is not a fair one (compared to the price of cars) and believe that we (the scooter riders of Philadelphia) should push to have the price changed to 1/4 the price of a car ($.25 per hour for long-term scooter parking).
Hope this helps - A concerned long-term vespa rider
Wanted to let everyone know that I and another scooter rider met with Stephen Buckley (Director of Transportation) and Richard Dickson (PPA) a few weeks ago to discuss the coming scooter parking changes.
Please don't exclude motorcycles here...we are in this together.
Finally, someone might be able to answer this for me, but is it possible to display the parking voucher on the scooter/motorcycle so that someone can't just grab it and put it on their bike, or is there some other system in place to prevent it?
You actually don't use the parking voucher for these spots. Instead you feed the meter, which has a coin slot for each space.
At 17th & JFK they didn't even install the meter yet but still decided to ticket everyone who parked up against the Suburban station entrance at 18th & JFK.
redvespa mentioned that in his meeting it was said that ticketing would take place in commercial areas. Was there any mention about a changing in ticketing with respect to residential locations? I've left my motorcycle on a small lightly used alley sidewalk (in old city) next to my building without any problems for awhile now, is there any indication that this will change with the addition of MC meters in the area? Has anyone else encountered a sudden change with respect to this, perhaps in the areas where the meters have already been added?
I *pleasantly* called her office, and am awaiting a reply from her (#2?) Steven Buckley (sp)
Steve Buckley is the deputy commissioner in charge of the streets part of Streets; that is, not Sanitation. He is a really good guy, and very reasonable. He's a transportation planner by background - he was the guy who did the Northeast Subway study which had it as the #1 possible public transit investment in the USA at the time.
Has anyone gotten any responses from their call/emails? I didn't get a call back from Buckley, but I see redvespa may have beaten me too it.
I think $4 is fair, but there still aren't enough spaces. I wonder how they "deemed" that parking at the racks was too dangerous. Has there been a rash of accidents?
Clearly redvepsa's concerns weren't heeded at all.
I sent in my appeal request today. If everyone that received a ticket for sidewalk parking last week submits an appeal request, that's another way to send a message that this enforcement is inappropriate and the new system is flawed.
Has anyone gotten any responses from their call/emails? I didn't get a call back from Buckley, but I see redvespa may have beaten me too it.
I think $4 is fair, but there still aren't enough spaces. I wonder how they "deemed" that parking at the racks was too dangerous. Has there been a rash of accidents?
Clearly redvepsa's concerns weren't heeded at all.
This all sounds foolish ... as long as the Scooters or Motorcycles are not impeding pedestrians they should be allowed to park on the sidewalk. Hell they should just instead of writing tickets note the areas where many scoots/cycle are currently parking and paint some lines and put up a bike rack bar that they can be secured to and call it a day. If someone parks outside the lines then fine ticket away.
Every bicycle/scoot/cycle that is used is one less car, if they move them to on street parking they are going to reduce available parking for cars.
