The start of spring weather is finally here, and many Philadelphians are taking full advantage of the sunshine by eating outside at sidewalk cafes. However, the outdoor seating option, which often increases visibility for businesses to draw customers in, is coming under fire by the Philadelphia Streets Department. KYW Newsradio is reporting that the Streets Department is warning sidewalk cafes and is planning to enforce fines unless the rules are followed.
Citing pedestrian complains, the report says restaurants could face daily fines if they do not obey the rules, such as “one requiring at least five feet of clear sidewalk.” We’re not sure how much time walking around these tables adds to any commute (we’re guessing seconds… SECONDS!) but apparently, the report (also posted on Yahoo News) quotes a man who had to bike around some outdoor diners as saying, “The dining doesn’t bother me so much. It bothers me when they are building things and they block the whole thing off… to have to cross the street repeatedly, that’s a pain.” BUT THAT MEANS THIS ASSHOLE WAS BIKING ON THE PAVEMENT! Which is like a thousand times worse than someone quietly eating a panini at a table on the sidewalk. Sigh.
Just around the Philebrity HQ, there are numerous establishments with outdoor seating, but the only time we had to walk into the street today was to get around some sidewalk construction.
But one commenter on the Yahoo story (seriously, who comments on Yahoo News stories, please show us this specimen, right here, right now) had this to say: “This is Philly folks. Its [sic] only a matter of time until some meth-crazed hotshot runs his Humvee up on the sidewalk and takes out about 100 customers.” Yup, that’s exactly everyone’s concern.
Waaaahhhhh, we have to obey the law. That’s unfair.
Restaurants in violation make it much more difficult for wheelchair users.
Maybe someday you’ll be in a wheelchair and not so blithe about blocked sidewalks.
I think most restaurants comply very well with the code, but Cantina on Passyunk is outta control.
Oh, I’ll never walk in the street to accommodate shenanigans when I’m walking. That’ like yielding to a bicycle on the sidewalk.
STFU! Be glad we can dine outside!
People should stop complaining – eat and drink more!
They should be able to put tables on the sidewalk in front of neighboring businesses, too. It’s not like they’re using it. What the hell, let restaurants set up tables in the street, too. Just put out cones and make the cars drive around them. I’m not sure how much time driving around the tables would add to any commute (I’m guessing seconds… SECONDS!)
if you’ve ever walked anywhere with a friend who’s in a wheelchair, you realize why these laws exist.
just found out yesterday after eating outside at cantina that the GIANT empty lot next door is finally going to be concreted and cantina will use that as an outdoor space. So no worries for you HIG. I actually appreciate the amount of outdoor seating they have and if a little girl in a giant barbie power wheels can get down the sidewalk with tables on both sides, I don’t think it’s that bad. (I witnessed that exact thing yesterday.)
These regulations are absolutely needed to provide for wheelchair access to the sidwalk. I’m glad to hear that the Streets Dept is actually enforcing them.
While they’re at it, they need to enforce the smoking ban – it applies to sidewalk cafes as well.
As the cyclist quoted on the broadcast, I’d like clarify a few things.
First, I was walking my bike up second street, not riding up the street.
Second, when the reporter initially asked me the question, I said I didn’t mind the cafes so much as the construction zones where the entire sidewalk was blocked off.