Student-Subway ^alpha

On a scale of 1 to 10, Philadelphia’s public transportation would score a meager 5 at best. While there are many ways to get around Philadelphia’s beautiful scenery, the subway and bus system are unreliable at best. SEPTA (the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), Philly’s subway system, has a regular shut down time of midnight on the average weekday, and the buses are rarely on time. This inconvenience is amplified by the fact that the subways themselves form a perfect cross through the center of the city, leaving you to find your own way to the far reaches of each quadrant.

Buses are more regular and run later hours, but are still subject to delays – especially during rush hours. Trolleys are a rare sight, counter to what childhood memories you may have of them, and run very strict routes (generally East to West) and sometimes aren’t running at all. During my time in the city, there were also two SEPTA strikes which lasted for over a week each. No one was going anywhere on public transportation. At the same time, who could blame them? The platforms were a mess and the security was definitely lacking.

The city’s cabs, however, are readily available and are generally within a decent price range. Walking or cycling is by far the best way to travel in the City of Brotherly Love, with bicycle lanes on almost every major road, and scenic routes for those less hectic days. As a former resident of Philadelphia, my advice is to invest in a bicycle to make the best of your time around the city!

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