Today marks the start of the Democratic National Convention, taking place at the Wells Fargo Center from July 25 to 28. About 50,000 people are expected in the city this week, so things may get a little chaotic.
If you’re one of the thousands of out-of-towners probably scratching his or her heads trying to navigate Philadelphia, we’re here to help. Here are four apps and websites that will make your life a little easier this week, from Parkadelphia, the website that tells you everything you need to know about parking in the city to the official DNC app that’s a one-stop shop for the whole week.
Bonus: They're all created by locals, so you can be sure they won't lead you astray.
Where can and can’t I park in Philadelphia?
Use the website Parkadelphia. It’s an extremely help tool that has mapped Philadelphia’s parking regulations, so you can find out how long you can park on a certain street, or type in your destination and scope out the best place for your car to camp out. This way you won’t accidentally end up with a pricey parking ticket after roaming the city by foot.
Where can or can’t I drive during the DNC?
PennDOT’s real-time website has got you covered on road closures in Philadelphia. If you need to get on I-95 for whatever reason, head to this website first to make sure you’re allowed on the roads or won’t get stuck in traffic.
I’m getting around by bike. What are the best routes to take?
Good for you! There are plenty of bike lanes to navigate in Philly, but the Cycle Philly app has compiled the most common routes based on user data. Find out if you should expect any hiccups along your route—cyclists have the option to note certain issues they encountered during their ride.
Should I bother downloading the DNC app?
Probably. The official Democratic National Convention app aims to serve as a one-stop shop for the week and includes a schedule of events, a simple map of main locations of the events, and the option to live-stream the convention.