PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Parking Authority is planning a crackdown on drivers who park on sidewalks or block access to handicapped ramps, but first it’s trying a gentler approach with public service announcements about the violations.
Philadelphians are known for their quirky parking habits. PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer lives in South Philadelphia, so he’s seen just about every way drivers can park illegally, but he says blocking the sidewalk is a pet peeve.
“It really impedes people’s quality of life,” he said, “especially people with disabilities, seniors, parents with coaches and things like that trying to get to different places.”
Lazer assumes the offenders are not malicious but simply unaware of the problems they create. That’s why the PPA, working with Variety, created a series of public service announcements about the violations.
“When parking your car, please, please, keep people like me in mind,” said former city representative Sheila Hess in one of the PSAs. Hess was born with spina bifida. Another PSA features Philadelphian Lamoni Green, who suffers from cerebral palsy.
“Everywhere I go I use a wheelchair. I don’t think it’s fair for people to park illegally because it makes my life more difficult,” said Green.
The point of the campaign, Lazer said, is “to humanize the issue and then to follow it up with enforcement, so that we can show we’re going to back up this community so they can travel safely around the city.”
Lazer says the PSAs will run through April. Then in May, enforcement officers will start targeting sidewalks with tickets ranging from $51 to $76.
Quality of life violations have been Lazer’s focus since becoming executive director, towing abandoned autos and ticketing cars without plates. He’s also working on a project with SEPTA to keep cars out of bus lanes.