🚗 Is Philly better with or without a car?

❄️ Saturday Snow Expected

Philly may get its second snowstorm of the week in the early morning hours on Saturday. Early predictions are calling for two to three inches. [Inquirer 🔒]

• Tuesday’s storm dropped snow on the region pretty unevenly, from just 0.6 inches at PHL airport to 10 inches in some suburbs. [NBC10]
• Philly’s snow patterns can be pretty unpredictable. Why? [City Cast Philly 🎧]

🚰 Dozens Displaced from Transitional Housing

A bursted pipe early yesterday morning forced nearly 30 women and children out of the Drueding Center in Olde Kensington. No one was hurt. [KYW]

🎥 Rocky Returns to Philly (But Not As Rocky)

Sylvester Stallone will reportedly produce and star in a Philly-set movie called “Epiphany,” in which he’ll play a veteran police detective on a mission to stop a serial killer. [Deadline]

• Meanwhile, a Rocky festival is in the works for later this year, since December’s “Rocky Day” helped boost Philly’s tourism. [PhillyVoice]
• Related: Why do people love the Rocky statue so darn much? [City Cast Philly 🎧]

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently reported that in 2022, passenger vehicle registrations in Philly experienced the largest one-year drop in 45 years — possibly indicating a recent decline in personal vehicle ownership.

So, I asked Hey Philly readers earlier this week for your thoughts on having a car in the city. Here’s what some folks said:

🚗 Miles F.: “I’m a senior citizen and I couldn’t do all I needed to do without my car. I did use just my bike in the early 70’s. It was I think a little harder then with no bike lanes.”

⏱️ Anonymous: “I mostly use the bus or walk when getting around the city at a more leisurely pace. For things like groceries or time sensitive appointments where I don’t have time to wait longer periods for the bus, I will drive.”

🚲 Jordana S.: “I live in Brewerytown and bike EVERYWHERE. I never worry about parking, theft, car insurance, or just having a piece of property outside on the street (gross).”

🛻 Gwendolyn J.: “I'm 73 yrs. old. I have a truck for safety. However, I understand not having a car note, auto insurance, the price of gas, and not to mention the raggedy streets that tear up an automobile. My truck has truly taken a beating from the streets of Philadelphia.”

⛔ Bettie K.: “This city is so walkable and has good public transportation as well, no need for cars even coming into the city. Walnut and Chestnut should definitely be pedestrians only, take a look at all the European cities!!!”

🅿️ Jacqueline W.: “I don't do a lot of my shopping or dining in Philly because I would rather drive and park in a lot. I like to be able to get in my car and go home when I am ready.”

💸 Rhonda W.: “We moved into the city two years ago and in about six weeks in, I realized I didn’t need the car. We are right off the BSL and bus lines and also love to walk everywhere. I’m saving a car payment, car insurance, and parking garage fees, all totaling about seven to 800 bucks a month … I couldn’t spend that much [on] Ubers if I tried!”

Have some thoughts of your own? Feel free to hit reply on this email and let me know.

State Rep. Boyle's Meltdown, City Workers May Return to Office

It's the Friday News Roundup! Learn whether state Rep. Kevin Boyle’s recent public outburst at a bar could impact his political future. And, why Mayor Cherelle Parker wants to bring city workers back to the office more frequently.