Philadelphia, PA November 5, 2010 – Philadelphia based non-profit PhillyCarShare is proud to announce that one of their distinctive automobiles will be the first motorized vehicle to cross the new South Street Bridge during Philadelphia Mayor Nutter’s opening ceremonies on Saturday, November 6, 2010. The bridge will be open to pedestrian and bike traffic only from 2 to 4 PM, after which the span will be opened to vehicular traffic, lead by PhillyCarShare.
PhillyCarShare is the oldest car sharing organization in the city, and a member of the Greater Philadelphia Green Business Program. Gerald Furgione, Executive Director of PhillyCarShare, is excited by the honor. “We are thrilled that we have been asked to be part of the opening ceremonies, he says. “The mission of PhillyCarShare is to reduce dependence on automobiles in Philadelphia. Our members are bikers and walkers who occasionally need a car.”
The bridge also helps advance the Greenworks Philadelphia Initiative to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America by 2015. Gerald adds, “People want to do the right thing for the environment, and the bridge design will allow more people to walk or bike.”
The South Street Bridge was closed in December, 2008 due to its crumbling infrastructure. It has been rebuilt with wider pedestrian lanes and improved bike lanes that link with the Schuylkill Banks path and new cycling lanes on South and Lombard Streets. The bridge will reopen Saturday on budget and a month ahead of schedule.
About PhillyCarShare
PhillyCarShare is a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization founded in 2002 with the mission of reducing automobile dependence in the Philadelphia region by offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to car ownership. Members receive a personal key to hundreds of low-emission cars, hybrids, trucks, and vans parked steps from their offices and homes. PhillyCarShare promotes an urban lifestyle in which members walk, bike, and take transit more, and save an average of $4,000 annually versus private vehicle ownership. In addition to the Philadelphia residents who participate in car sharing, PhillyCarShare currently serves our business community of over 1300 for-profit and non-profit companies, universities, and government agencies. For more information visit http://www.phillycarshare.org/
For more information contact:
Gerald Furgione
gerald@phillycarshare.org
125 South 9th Street
Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 191