PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia announced today it will host its third Philly Free Streets program on Saturday, August 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year’s eight-mile round trip route, between City Hall and Erie Avenue on North Broad Street, will create a car-free connection between Center City and the heart of North Philadelphia. A map of the route can be found at www.PhillyFreeStreets.com.
“I am thrilled to announce that we are bringing back Philly Free Streets—and it’s going to be even bigger than before,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I encourage all Philadelphians to join me in walking or biking along North Broad Street to explore a historic and diverse corridor of our City.” he added.
Led by the Managing Director’s Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems (oTIS), Philly Free Streets temporarily closes streets to cars, inviting people to walk, bike, and play. Philly Free Streets highlights these active transportation options, as well as neighborhood walkability and its positive impacts on public health, the environment, business, and the community.
“At its core, Philly Free Streets promotes livable streets—streets that are safe and comfortable for people of all ages and physical abilities to walk, bike, and meet their neighbors,” said Mike Carroll, Philadelphia’s Deputy Managing Director for Transportation & Infrastructure Systems. “Philly Free Streets will again bring people together to have fun, be social, and engage in healthy activities—this time, on North Broad Street.”
The August 2018 Philly Free Streets program is generously sponsored by AARP Pennsylvania. “Philadelphians, and people who visit this great city, should be able to go for a walk, get around without a car, and enjoy public spaces. That’s part of what makes Philly Free Streets so exciting. It’s a chance to make our community more livable for all ages,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director.
Additionally, with the continued support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the August 2018 Philly Free Streets will include programming that highlights the ways in which good street design promotes healthy, livable neighborhoods by making the choice to walk and bike easier for Philadelphians.
“Philly Free Streets is much more than closing a street for a day. It’s an opportunity for residents to explore diverse neighborhoods and connect with each other and their city. We hope it serves as a promising model for building more people-powered public spaces into the future,” said Patrick Morgan, Knight Foundation program director for Philadelphia.
Philly Free Streets participants are invited to join the car-free route at any point—there’s no formal start or finish. Organizers encourage participants to use SEPTA or Indego to join the route. During the program, people are encouraged to support businesses along the route and to stop and participate in the family-friendly programming throughout.
For more information regarding Philly Free Streets, including information regarding the program, volunteering, and how to become a Philly Free Streets sponsor, go to www.PhillyFreeStreets.com