PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Since the Philadelphia Parking Authority rolled out its inaugural class of bike patrol officers on May 1, tasked with enforcing regulations for cars parked in bike lanes, officers have issued more than 300 tickets.
The unit has been patrolling three sections of the city — Center City and University City, where fines are $76, and South Philadelphia, where fines are $51.
Many applaud the effort to improve public safety and say PPA’s pilot program is a start in the right direction, but some want the city to step up even more.
“People who are using their bikes to get to work, to get their kids to school are always appreciative of any effort to make sure that cars are not parked in the bike lane, but ultimately there is just not enough enforcement right now,” said Dena Ferrara Driscoll, chair of 5th Square, a political action committee that focuses on public spaces, safer streets and zoning.
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“What they are doing is really great, and we hope that they expand it and really start to crack down to make sure that it’s safer for folks to use the bike lanes.”
That includes a better parking management plan. The PAC wants a parking audit conducted of the whole city.
“At the end of the day, not everyone is not going to be able to park in front of their home,” Driscoll said. “And we should really make sure people understand that reality and understand what we can do.”
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Driscoll said additional designated loading zones, concrete barriers, and a second curb between bike lanes and the street could help keep the lanes free of parked cars.
The PPA’s new team is made up of eight dedicated bike patrol officers. The agency expects to eventually expand the program to other parts of the city.