Philly councilmember pushes penalty hike for sidewalk parking

Parking on the sidewalk may soon cost you a whole lot more.

What's happening: City Councilmember Bobby Henon, who represents District 2 in Northeast Philly, is pushing a new proposal to hike tickets from $50 to $300 for drivers who use sidewalks as their personal parking spaces.

Why it matters: Sidewalk parking is part of the city's culture, but it creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians and particularly affects community members with disabilities.

• Plus, it damages infrastructure.

What they're saying: Henon's spokesperson, Courtney Voss, said residents in the district were calling for more aggressive parking enforcement and stiffer penalties.

• Nick Zuwiala-Rogers, transportation program director for nonprofit Clean Air Council, said boosting fines for sidewalk parking could be effective at cutting down on the practice if it’s combined with more enforcement and education.
• The role of education is "so that people know why this can't be part of our culture any more and why this is dangerous both short-term for people trying to travel down the sidewalk and long-term for pedestrian infrastructure," Zuwiala-Rogers said.

Of note: Henon also introduced another proposal last month to ban auto repair shops from storing or selling vehicles on city streets, boosting the fine from $50 to $300.

What's ahead: Henon hopes the council will put the pair of proposals up for a final vote by the end of the year, Voss said.