Philadelphia

PPA Tows Hundreds of Cars Before Philly Free Streets

"I am disappointed that such a lovely event is now tarnished to the residents that live here," Cappelli expressed.

Many residents of the Philadelphia area will not remember Saturday for the Philly Free Streets event, but rather for the trip they had to make to the Philadelphia Parking Authority to retrieve their towed cars.

At least 200 South Philadelphia and Old City residents went to bed knowing where their cars were parked, and woke up to find the streets empty.

Anastasia Cappelli lives near 18th and Lombard Streets and last walked by her car, parked at 20th and Lombard at 7:30 p.m. last night and did not see any signs posted warning residents to move their cars.

She'd heard about the Philly Free Streets event, but said she wasn't aware there would be parking restrictions.

While down at the PPA waiting to pay the $175 towing and storage fee as well as a $76 ticket for parking in an area designated as "Temporary No Parking" by police, Cappelli found other upset residents in the same predicament. Some said their security cameras recorded signs being posted around 9 p.m. Friday.

"I am disappointed that such a lovely event is now tarnished to the residents that live here," Cappelli expressed. "It seems like a violation of what we're allowed as city residents and it's a shame that this will be the aftermath of an event that was supposed to be great."

Open Streets Philadelphia posted a blog post about the route that would be closed to traffic, but no mention or warning about parked cars. UWISHUNU also had a post about driving and linked to a parking restriction list that does mention cars would be prohibited on streets included in the route.

"Due to miscommunication, some cars parked along the event route were ticketed and towed rather than simply relocated," Mike Dunn, City of Philadelphia Deputy Communications Director, stated.

Dunn said the City will do the right thing for Cappelli and all the others who woke up to find their cars towed.

"All tickets will be canceled. Anyone who already paid a towing charge to retrieve their car will have the payment refunded and anyone who has not yet retrieved their car will not have to pay," Dunn said.

Posting signs along the 10-miles of shut down streets was a process Dunn said that started Thursday and was finished by 8 p.m. Friday. "Flyers [sic] were placed on doors and the Streets Department made robo-calls to inform affected residents of the parking restrictions."

"The City apologizes for the inconvenience the towing may have caused," Dunn said in a statement Saturday afternoon.

"Had someone done their job properly and provided ample notice, not at 8-10 p.m. the night prior, I am sure we would have participated in this event." Cappelli stated.

Contact Us