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ParallelPeterParker t1_ja8owsd wrote

A lot of contractors don't have what I think are called sidewalk closure permits but effectively close the sidewalk anyway. In those cases, I think you need to offer up a ped walkway. It's even more infuriating when either the safest route is through multiple lights and/or the other side is closed as well.

Yes, in theory, one could "wheel" around it (and an entire city block) without issue (making assumptions about other sidewalks being fine), but in reality, we really need the streets dept. to be more robust, responsive and effective in making contractors responsible to our city's most vulnerable.

Just other pet peeves that drive me bonkers:

  1. Cars parked in their "driveway" with a garage but the garage is full of shit so the car is parked in front and still blocks the entire sidewalk.
  2. Cars parked senselessly on the crosswalks. I'm a pretty forgiving guy, but like, try to get both axels in front of it (this is the PPA's standard for the arrows, you gotta have both axels in front).
  3. Bike Lane parkers. I know they have 20 minutes, but every ride home from work at ~5pm down spruce features at least 8 cars. Traffic is usually forgiving tho.
  4. Double parking on 4 lane roads (Like Broad)
  5. Just contractors on wash ave. I get it, but that road is still not safe for anyone.
  6. Bonus parking pet peeve: Dudes in large pickups (at least F150s) who INSIST on backing into the dumbest fucking parking spots - usually in parking lots.
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Fattom23 t1_ja8qprr wrote

As far as I'm aware, that "they have 20 minutes" is both informal and bullshit.

Edit: I've subsequently been advised that the 20 minute rule is actually formal and bullshit. I apologize for the error.

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mistersausage t1_ja8r6my wrote

It is allowed. Philadelphia law says that a place that is signed "no parking" you have 20 or 30 min before you can get a ticket. There are some exceptions, like you can't do this in front of a driveway (even your own driveway for 5 min while unloading groceries...got a ticket that way).

No stopping signs mean no stopping at all. No standing means you can stop to let people off, but it effectively means you can stay as long as you want so long as you are in the car.

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Fattom23 t1_ja8t94n wrote

I stand corrected. That's a truly horrible law; a bike lane is not at all safe if you have to leave it to get around cars stopped in it. That's how that 3 year old in Chicago got killed.

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mistersausage t1_ja9aln4 wrote

It's 20 min not 30. Section 12-913-1-c-2 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-285267

Well right after it says you can't park in a designated bicycle lane, but if there are no parking signs at the bike lane, who knows whether b or c applies. That's probably the confusion.

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Fattom23 t1_ja9k78n wrote

But it also seems that parking, stopping and standing are separate legal concepts and the statute only prohibits parking there. I rarely see someone park, shut off the engine and then leave the car in a bike lane. So most have them haven't technically "parked".

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mistersausage t1_jaajvqp wrote

If parking is allowed, standing and stopping are also always allowed. Parking is a superset.

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ParallelPeterParker t1_ja8xi1p wrote

TIL

Just to add, I wonder how many average philadelphians (or pennsylvanians) understand that verbiage?

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ParallelPeterParker t1_ja8tiau wrote

My understanding is, by state law, one cannot park (or stop) in a travel lane, but bike lanes are not considered travel lanes and thus state law is sorta silent.

Under Phila ordinance, § 12-913(1)(c)(2) you can park there for the stated 20 minutes. Coincidently, Pittsburgh just changed this not to long ago to "fix the glitch."

All to say, City Council can fix this in like 3 months - they just refuse to.

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mistersausage t1_ja9cbgv wrote

c3 says you cannot park in dedicated bicycle lanes right after. So which applies if it's a bike lane that also has no parking signs?

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ParallelPeterParker t1_jaa2048 wrote

The 20 min rule. See the other poster above who explained stopping vs standing vs parking.

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mistersausage t1_jaajsno wrote

I am the other poster, but I am second guessing my conclusion based on c in that subsection. Regardless, PPA enforces it with the 20 min rule, so you get more than that because they have to scan your plate twice more than 20 min apart.

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