Philadelphia, PA Driving Tips
Oh.. I guess I'd say to learn to parallel park. Well. I passed my driving test the second time after failing the first time due to parallel parking, but that didn't prepare me at all for actually attempting to park (especially an SUV) in Philadelphia. And be aware that some meters take dimes and nic
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kels and others don't. Download a parking garage app. Watch out because many, many streets are one-way or very narrow, and residents or delivery people love to double park. Driving can be super annoying. I can't count how many times suburban friends have said to me how "I hate driving in the city", but you get used to it. I love it because I have figured out the tricks and I appreciate all the interesting sights.
Philadelphia, PA Buying Tips
I got mine from Craigslist. If you want used, yes, CL is pretty active and helpful in Philadelphia. Of course, you should test it out, maybe even have a mechanic or mechanically - inclined friend look at it before buying it. But mainly, I've found good people just trying to get rid of a car they no
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longer need for a good price.
For new cars, I guess any dealership is fine.. Conicelli is pretty popular around here. I wouldn't know, as I don't have the finances for a new car.
Favorite Driving Memory
Well, driving is not exactly fun in Philadelphia. It's difficult and crowded, so the only enjoyable times to do it are when there aren't as many people around. I suppose my best driving memories have been with people I love, driving to or from or across the city. For example, my boyfriend and I ofte
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n drive to a movie, and we go all the way down Spring Garden Street--lots of lights but not terribly busy at night - - to Delaware Avenue. We then would just talk and enjoy each other while driving down Delaware Ave to the movie theater. It is a wide road, with the river on one side, and some touristy restaurants, but mainly it just looks cool, especially at night. I just like the ride, and the anticipation of where we are heading.
Another highlight would be taking 95 or 76, the highways to get in or out of Philadelphia. When it's late at night, we sometimes use these to get to my mom's house in the suburbs, or to my friend's houses. We roll down the windows and there's almost no one to slow us down. We play music loudly and sing along and enjoy the easy drive northwest. I suppose my favorite times to drive both involve someone I like being with, and driving at night, when it's not crowded and you can really see how cool the area looks and how strange it seems to not be all bustling with humans.
Favorite Road
Delaware Avenue
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I just explained this in my driving memory. As I said, it's a long road, with multiple lanes. There's a median in between some parts. The highway entrances are on the right, and the river is on the left. It is awesome to look over at some of the riverfront buildings and imagine living there; Moshulu
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, a historic ship that was turned into a restaurant; Dave & Buster's, another place fraught with memories for me; and just the majestic river, which always impresses me, that we have something so big and beautiful in our otherwise very urban city.
Philadelphia, PA Driving Tips
Beware of crazy drivers, and make sure to watch out for one way streets.
Philadelphia, PA Buying Tips
You will want something more compact because you will be doing a lot of parallel parking. You will also want something that's good at driving over snowbanks. You will find a lot of good deals online.
Favorite Driving Memory
Two years ago, I bought my very own car and thought that I was the coolest girl in town. One night, a group of friends and I wanted to go to Philadelphia to get some good old fashioned cheesesteaks. It was a rainy night, but I insisted that we go and that I would drive because I was enjoying my newf
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ound freedom in my new car. We all piled into the car, and many of my friends were a bit intoxicated. On the way, I appointed my best friend to be my copilot and in charge of directions. I was a bit nervous driving there because it was dark and downpouring and I hadn't driven myself in the backroads of the city before. Apparently, there are a lot of one way streets. I had never noticed this being the passenger, but being the driver it was very apparent. The backroads of Philadelphia are narrow and always busy, both with cars and pedestrians. It's even worse in the rain. It was even worse because my passengers were very distracting, yelling and blasting music and having fun. We made it into the heart of the city and all glanced up at city hall, which was illuminated and eye-catching despite the weather. We were getting close to our destination when my co-pilot must have not being paying close attention. I was approaching a stop sign and needed to turn before the oncoming traffic would delay us. She was flustered and just said "turn left now!" and being an obedient listener, I complied. What a mistake. I need to mention that at this time it began to rain harder than it had all night. I turned and was driving, when I realized something was wrong. There were three lanes of headlights headed directly at me! I looked at my friend, yelled at my passengers to hold tight, and did the craziest U-turn right then and there. Everyone thought I was taking them on some sort of ride! My heart was pounding and I wasn't sure what was happening, but I was on a one-way street, clearly headed in the wrong direction. I pulled over and consulted my iPhone map and found where we needed to go. No more co-pilot for me! In the end, we made it to go get our cheesesteaks, but to this day my friends still bring up that time I almost got them all killed while driving in Philadelphia!
Favorite Road
S Broad Street
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I enjoy this road because of how it looks at night when everything is illuminated. It has a straight path to city hall and it gives it a historic feel.
Philadelphia, PA Driving Tips
Watch out for cyclists! I am a bike rider, as are many in the city. I hate parking so I always take the train into the city when I can. If you do park, be sure you pay for parking or they WILL get you. You pay at a central kiosk in the center of the block and print out a ticket that you put on y
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our dashboard.
Philadelphia, PA Buying Tips
I bought my car online. There are a lot of dealers on the boulevard in NE Philly.
Favorite Driving Memory
I love the time I needed to get a cheese steak late night and was able to catch all of the lights from where I lived to Jim's on South Street. What a great night and a great cheese steak!
Favorite Road
South Street
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I love driving on South Street on a Friday or Saturday night in the city and just watching all the different people and looking at the stores, etc. Really an eclectic crowd and so much traffic you really can't go anywhere fast.
I also enjoy Lincoln Drive near the Schuykill River. It is a twisty, w
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inding road near the river that always has a lot of activity. People are running, riding bikes, rowing boats, fishing, rollerblading etc. It is a place to really feel like a part of Philly as it goes by Boathouse Row and the Art Museum as well. The trees and river make it a great spot to get out your picnic stuff in the spring summer or fall and watch people go by.
