I am a regular SEPTA rider and know changes are coming very soon to public transportation in Philadelphia.  As a rider of public transportation, I know that SEPTA struggles providing reliable and adequate services throughout their system.  I have also been informing myself that SEPTA is changing to using microtransit.   A lot of riders of public transportation may or may not be informed about what’s coming to the transit agency or know that there is a bus network revolution occurring in Philadelphia.  Unfortunately, SEPTA has not done a lot of advertising regarding the future of public transportation or informing riders about  microtransit (an on-demand transit service operated with smaller vehicles that allows riders to request a trip when they travel).

While the transit agency is thinking of its future with microtransit they should also consider what is happening with it now.  There has been an uptick in crime and they need to address this issue as well.  Before changing into microtransit, the transit authority should learn to provide reliable service to the riding public at some point.   While doing a gradual change to microtransit, SEPTA should also think about improving customer service and protecting the riders from all kinds of crime.

The transit authority, SEPTA, is hoping microtransit will give public transportation a future in Philadelphia.  However, ridership on SEPTA can go up and down often in the city of Philadelphia.   

As a member of the Philly Transit Riders Union, I attended a transit talk or discussion in Center City.  I learned that SEPTA does want to make public transportation more sustainable and efficient.  In the future, I believe that SEPTA is going to look more like the rail system in the long run.  I also feel that when they start implementing microtransit, there will be fewer bus routes in general but maybe faster service.  As a rider of SEPTA, I may not be completely satisfied with the change to microtransit.

Christopher Saxon

East Mt. Airy