If you’ve ridden your bike on a Philadelphia road without a protected bike lane, you’ve likely felt a degree of stress wondering whether you’ll be clipped by a driver speeding past or suddenly “doored” while trying to reach your destination. That anxiety is not hypothetical for many riders; it is part of the daily experience of biking in the city. Philadelphians don’t have to accept traffic violence as reality; it’s possible to live in a city where Vision Zero is achievable.
Against this backdrop, the City of Philadelphia’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget proposal maintains $5 million in annual funding for Vision Zero through 2030. We are deeply thankful for the city’s continued investment in Vision Zero and its commitment to improving street safety. At the same time, we encourage increased funding to fully support the plan and expand the safety improvements our streets urgently need. Adequate funding for Vision Zero has the potential to save the lives of 100 individuals who lost their lives to traffic crashes in Philadelphia in 2025.
While the City has an opportunity to supplement these efforts through other sources, such as $57 million in match funds, this is a not dedicated funding stream. The lack of consistent, dedicated funding for traffic safety and bike infrastructure remains a significant gap that must be addressed.
Although concrete-protected lanes can be more expensive upfront, they produce significant savings in the long run by reducing crashes, injuries, and have reduced maintenance needs long term. In 2024, BCGP reported several examples demonstrating the long-term benefits of investing in this type of infrastructure.
Other cities have already made meaningful investments. Phoenix invests $10 million annually, while Boston invests $5 million. Notably, Boston spends the same amount as Philadelphia considering Boston’s population is less than half that of Philadelphia. These examples demonstrate that sustained investment in safer streets is both possible and practical.
Research strongly supports this type of investment. According to the Urban Institute, “Research demonstrates that the presence of a well-connected bike network encourages more people, especially women and people with low incomes—to bike.”
BCGP will continue to work with its members, allies, and partners to engage community members in supporting the current Vision Zero plan. Just as important, we will solicit feedback about what changes and improvements are needed to make the plan more effective.
Moreover, we call on the City of Philadelphia to commission a study to determine the true level of funding required to achieve Vision Zero. The city has already demonstrated bold leadership in its approach to housing through its $2 billion HOME program. We are hopeful that Philadelphia will take a similarly ambitious approach to improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Creating safer streets is not simply about infrastructure, it is about expanding mobility, improving public safety, and ensuring that everyone in Philadelphia can travel through their city without fear.
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The City of Philadelphia’s Vision Zero plan allocates $5 million in funding annually through 2030 to eliminate traffic deaths. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) is collecting community member and stakeholder input on Vision Zero.