October 28, 2017
Margo Reed/for PhillyVoice
Rashid Brown helps Shana Mosley, 7, get on an Indego bicycle that she could ride safely in the streets during Open Streets PHL's Philly Free Streets event on Sept. 24, 2016. The 2017 Philly Free Streets event will occur from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 28.
Saturday marks Philadelphia’s second round of Philly Free Streets, giving a large swath of the city a break from cars as pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy temporarily-closed streets.
After debuting in 2016 by closing parts of South Street, this year’s Philly Free Streets stretches from Third and Chestnut streets all the way to Fairhill at Fifth and Indiana streets, comprising a total seven miles.
In anticipation of the event, city officials even partnered with the Knight Foundation and the software company responsible for Pokémon GO, encouraging people to explore the neighborhoods available during Philly Free Streets by offering prizes to gamers who visit all the PokéStops stationed within the open area.
“It’s such a car-dependent society,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in July.
“People argue about parking all the time… We just want to deemphasize the car for a few hours in a given day so people can enjoy being out here and being safe.”
The event began at 8 a.m. Saturday morning and lasts through 1 p.m.
#PhillyFreeStreets officially begins! @PhillyMayor @PhillyFreeSts @JOC5593 @MEnriquezPHL pic.twitter.com/pAU0qwTfTm
— PhillyOIA (@PhillyOIA) October 28, 2017
Ribbon cutting ceremony to start @PhillyFreeSts https://t.co/TMlG2HXWak #PhillyFreeStreets pic.twitter.com/4P0pxyOEom
— OldCityDistrict (@OldCityDistrict) October 28, 2017
Start #PhillyFreeStreets on the right (or left) foot with a power walk with Mayor Kenney! The walk begins now at S. 3rd and Chestnut St.! pic.twitter.com/tPthiXcDtE
— Philly Free Streets (@PhillyFreeSts) October 28, 2017
Trying & failing to keep up w/ @PhillyMayor walking the #PhillyFreeStreets route. pic.twitter.com/kPNipRMScI
— Patrick Morgan (@PMorganPHL) October 28, 2017
Protected bike lane pilot on 4th not an actual proposal but should be. Certainly wide enough #Phillyfreestreets pic.twitter.com/VqYInvuR5w
— Jon Geeting (@jongeeting) October 28, 2017
Vistas desde la zona de activación de Flavors of the Barrio en N 5th e Indiana! #PhillyFreeStreets pic.twitter.com/xoi71d2j4X
— Philly Free Streets (@PhillyFreeSts) October 28, 2017
With Kelly at 5th and Germantown. #PhillyFreeStreets pic.twitter.com/VvpU2qG0Cg
— Dr. Tom Farley (@DrTomFarley) October 28, 2017
My kids experiencing #Fairhill for the first time. They love it! #PhillyFreeStreets pic.twitter.com/xEi6zyzgOz
— Nate Hommel (@natehommel) October 28, 2017
TODAY! Car-free streets are available to walk, bike, stroll, and roll til 1:00! ➡️ https://t.co/buKMbjw6ou #PhillyFreeStreets pic.twitter.com/Oes812NT0W
— Free Library (@FreeLibrary) October 28, 2017
Gotta catch 'em all. #PokemonGo #PhillyFreeStreets pic.twitter.com/vI0rNxSOzB
— Tony Blackwell (@TBlackwell600) October 28, 2017
Want to come help @muralarts paint El Bohio w/25th @PhillyPolice District Captain Rodriguez? Visit 5th & Somerset for #PhillyFreeStreets! pic.twitter.com/i2ClcTG4kt
— PhillyMDOEvents (@PhillyMDOEvents) October 28, 2017
Current status: taking the streets! #PhillyFreeStreets @PhillyFreeSts #philly #streetsforpeople #openstreets #humanistcities pic.twitter.com/J7XoN4ipO8
— Katrina J-Z (@think_katrina) October 28, 2017
Any city that has a Boyz 2 Men Pokéstop is legit in my book. #pokemongo #phillyfreestreets pic.twitter.com/qOZoUIMav3
— Jonno Plays (@JonnoPlaysCoC) October 28, 2017
