Why Should You Ride SEPTA?

January 4, 2017

Can riding SEPTA help benefit the lives of yourself and others? Sure can! The advantages of public transportation are endless, benefiting every segment of American society including individuals, families, communities, and businesses.

So, why should you ride public transit?

For your waistline:

• Public transportation users take 30% more steps per day than people who rely on cars.

• Individuals who use public transportation get over three times the amount of physical activity per day of those who don’t.

For your wallet:

• Using public transportation is the easiest way to avoid high gas prices and parking costs. 

• A two-person household can save, on the average, more than $9,394 a year by downsizing to one car.

 For the economy:

• Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.

• Every $1 billion invested in public transportation supports and creates more than 50,000 jobs.

For the environment:

• Public transportation use in the United States reduces our nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined stopping using electricity.

• A single commuter switching his or her commute to public transportation can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 10 percent and up to 30 percent if he or she eliminates a second car.

For your city:

Riding SEPTA helps to improve Philadelphia and the people in it. Whether you commute from the suburbs or live within city limits, taking SEPTA takes cars off the road and makes Philly a less congested, less polluted, and overall more pleasant place. Check out some of these facts about how ditching your car for SEPTA helps our city:

• One car on the Broad Street Line holds 65 people. That's 41 fewer cars on the road.

• One car on the Market-Frankford Line has seating for 49 people. That's 31 fewer cars on the road.

• One 60' Hybrid Articulated SEPTA Bus seats 59 passengers. Taking 37 cars off the road.

• One 40' Hybrid SEPTA Bus seats 39 passengers. Taking 24 cars off the road.

• One SEPTA Trolley car seats  51 passengers. Taking 32 cars off the road.

• If all transit commuters to Center City drove instead of riding SEPTA, we would need 28 Comcast Centers worth of parking (923 acres).

Taking public transportation has many advantages, whether its improving your health, saving money, helping the environment, or improving city. So, consider riding SEPTA instead of driving and experience the benefits for yourself!