🚴 The case for more protected bike lanes

How To Coexist on Philly’s Roads

Between 2020 and 2024, less than 10% of crashes involved pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bikers, but those crashes accounted for nearly two-thirds of all traffic fatalities, according to PennDOT. Protected bike lanes may be one way to bring these numbers down, yet that’s a contentious topic. Philly Bike Action organizer Dave Talone shares the latest on bike lanes in Philly’s busiest, and most dangerous, corridors. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

PA Taxpayers Pay Hefty Price for Shapiro’s Security Upgrades

After an arson attack at the governor’s mansion last spring, Governor Shapiro beefed up security — and not just in Harrisburg. Upgrades to his private residence in Montgomery County are costing Pennsylvanians $1 million, in addition to $6 million in repairs to the governor’s mansion. [Spotlight PA]

World Cafe Live Rocks On, But Doesn’t Pay To Keep Lights On

World Cafe Live has been trying to rebuild its reputation following labor disputes and cancelled performances amid controversial leadership and organizational changes. But there’s one thing it hasn’t shaken: debt. The venue owes Penn $1.29 million in rent and utility payments dating back to 2022, and the university is taking the concert space to court over it. [🔒 The Inquirer]

Eakins, van Gogh, and … Balboa?

Philly has several iconic movies that made us part of their stories, but “Rocky” may be the movie most associated with the city. Come April the title character will be part of the Philadelphia Art Museum exhibit “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments," exploring how monuments are created and shaped by communities. [🎧 City Cast Philly, NBC10]

• Related: Despite Rocky Balboa’s star power, at the end of the day he’s a fictional character. So how did the boxer get his own statue? [🎧 City Cast Philly]

The Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems and Vision Zero Philadelphia released the “Vision Zero Philadelphia: Action Plan 2030” in late November, outlining the city’s goals to bring traffic deaths down to zero. An updated High Injury Network map was released in conjunction with the plan, demonstrating which corridors have the highest rates of traffic-related fatalities and injuries.

To create the plan the city worked with nearly 3,000 Philadelphians to learn their main areas of concerns and what types of solutions they prioritized. Here are some takeaways.

Traffic Deaths Remain Higher Than Other Cities

Philadelphia is outpacing its metropolitan counterparts across the country when it comes to traffic deaths. Philly has a rate of 8.48 traffic-related deaths per 100,000 residents. This surpasses the sprawling, car-centric city of Los Angeles at 8.11 and walkable New York City at 2.75.

Residents Are Most Concerned About Speed

Speeding was the top contributing factor in crash severity between 2020 and 2024. In a survey, Philadelphians said that speed was their number one traffic safety concern, followed by drivers running red lights and stop signs.

Philly Wants Traffic Safety Education To Start Young

Most Philadelphians surveyed said their highest priorities were educating high schoolers on safe-driving practices and young people on safe walking and biking. More than half wanted bike lanes separated from traffic.

Legislative Action Is Needed To Reach Safety Goals

Vision Zero’s Policy Subcommittee plans to spend the next five years meeting three policy goals:

• Expand local government’s ability to set speed limits and work with state partners to set limits that make more sense for Philadelphia.
• Make state roads eligible for parking-separated bike lanes.
• Renew automated red-light enforcement programs and expand automated speed enforcement.