Judge: Keep Parking Your Cars in the Median

Parking enforcement looks the other way when residents of South Philly park in the median of Broad Street. Not even a lawsuit can change that.

1 minute read

September 10, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"A judge has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at getting the Police Department and the Philadelphia Parking Authority to end the long standing practice of allowing motorists to park on the Broad Street median in South Philly," report Joseph A. Gambardello and Howard Gensler.

"Jake Liefer, the co-founder of self-proclaimed “urbanist” political action committee 5th Square, filed suit on July 20 in a bid to end parking on the Broad Street median, which, while a longstanding tradition, is technically against the law," according to the article.

5th Square cited public safety in pushing for the enforcement of parking laws on the median of Broad Street. Critics of the lawsuit, including Joe LiTrenta, who wrote an op-ed for the Inquirer, argue that disallowing g parking in the median would hurt the neighborhood. Planetizen picked up on the news of this debate in August 2016.

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

6 hours ago - San Francisco Examiner

Electric car charging station with several Chevy Bolts charging in parking lot of store in Bellingham, Washington

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth

Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

7 hours ago - GovTech

Top view new development riverside residential and commercial neighborhood with vacant land in Texas, USA.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas

Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

May 21 - The Texas Tribune