Letters: Motorist giving up on Center City

Philadelphia Daily News

THE CONFLICT between Center City cyclists and automobile drivers can be substantially reduced if more drivers do as I have, which is to simply boycott Center City.

Philly is great for throwing up parking meters, putting No Parking signs where they make no sense, painting all kinds of white lines in an effort to control all forms of travel and punishing citizens through ticketing with a level of efficiency unmatched by anything else we pay government to do.

So I say, let them have Center City. Leave it to the cyclists, taxis, buses, UPS and FedEx trucks, and all the construction-obstructing traffic. Leave it to the traffic police in white hats who do nothing but stand with hands on hips. And leave it to the entitled pedestrians who zigzag across streets oblivious to no one but themselves.

In this economy, there is little that I need to buy. And if I do need something, I'll stay closer to home and shop on City Avenue or in the suburbs, where sanity prevails.

Len Trower, Philadelphia

Comments

Posted 06:08 AM, 10/26/2009

psyrus

Add to that the 8% sales tax and who would really want to come into Center City to shop? Not many. There are plenty of good retail stores just outside of the city limits.

Comment removed.

Posted 09:32 AM, 10/26/2009

Monster Joe

Center City as a destination for shopping? Why? Way more trouble than it could possibly be worth. Maybe if there was tax free shopping, yeah right.

Posted 09:37 AM, 10/26/2009

chrissmith

Thank God. Cities aren't for cars anyway. They're for people and public transit. Stay out.

Posted 09:38 AM, 10/26/2009

John Q. Public

Good for you. I guess this means one less annoying SUV driver who'll be talking on the phone in my neighborhood.

Posted 09:50 AM, 10/26/2009

Politburo

These people are so disturbed about some new parking and bike regulations that they take the time to write a letter to the newspaper about how they'll never come back? I bet in two weeks they forget about the whole thing.

Posted 10:09 AM, 10/26/2009

ben715

We won't miss you, Len.

Posted 10:12 AM, 10/26/2009

longshanks

See you Len, don't come back now ya here.

Posted 10:31 AM, 10/26/2009

Flyers2001

Center city is a dump anyway.

Posted 10:32 AM, 10/26/2009

joedog

Of course, there is always the redeeming factor of watching or being involved in violent crime in Center City.

Posted 11:08 AM, 10/26/2009

nuggett

Great idea.....fewer cars would be a big help....use the high speed line, the subway, the buses....public transportation is a good idea.....selfish one occupant car drivers need to realize the numbers don't justify that type of use......double or triple up....use public transportation.....and I suspect that the majority of commuters don't stya in town anyway so no big loss......

Posted 11:28 AM, 10/26/2009

center city

Do you not see the bigger picture. It's not about shopping, its about living in Center City. Only the havers will be able to live, eat, walk and park in Center City.

Posted 11:56 AM, 10/26/2009

JohnI

Dear Len: Don't go away mad, but do keep your car out of Center City. If future economic changes restore your ability to buy things (or you'd like to just visit), then remember there's plenty of public transit. In fact, buses and off-peak trains will let you bring a bike and enjoy those striped-off areas yourself. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!