Friends With Benefits
August 8, 2016
Relationships in college are difficult. But there’s one relationship in particular that has remained strong over the 4 years that I’ve been a Philadelphian: my relationship with SEPTA. Sure having a SEPTA Pass or SEPTA Key is great for getting you on public transit whether it be bus, rail, or subway, but your SEPTA Pass or Key can do so much more. There's an incredible variety of Pass Perks you receive with your SEPTA Pass or SEPTA Key that give you discounts to dozens of events, restaurants, museums, tours and more. However, there are also some ‘hidden benefits’ of public transportation that aren’t as obvious but still save you both time and money.
First off, public transportation helps you stay on schedule. Students especially tend to better prioritize their time when they have a scheduled train or bus to catch. I know that I, along with my fellow commuters, tend to be more productive with my time on campus by catching up on assignments or studying between classes. Schools such as Temple University (go Owls) are making strides to help the commute to and from school be more efficient with the introduction of their Commuter Lounge. This lounge was built so that the thousands of students who commute are able to relax and be productive while only steps away from the Regional Rail station on campus. When you get on your train, you can have anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours of free time to do work since you don't have to drive. While many days you'll be more inclined to play Pokemon Go, swipe on Tinder, or see what your friends are doing on Snapchat, many busy weekdays students will take advantage of the commute to finish an assignment that's probably due within 12 hours.
Another benefit of using public transportation is that it helps save money. While there are the obvious perks of not having to pay for parking, maintenance, insurance or gas, there are also a few hidden benefits behind using public transit as a means to save you money. For example, individuals who use public transit to do their shopping are limited to what they can carry. Not having a car will also prevent impulsive or unnecessary trips that will only burn up resources. It’s like when you go to Target for one thing but leave having purchased enough to redecorate your entire apartment, completely overhaul your wardrobe, and throw a 4th of July party. Even those who do own a car have the opportunity to save money by using public transit. “Pleasure Only insurance” for individuals who don’t use their cars every day rather only for special occasions, is offered as a cheaper insurance alternative. If you can prove lower mileage totals as a result of using your car as a secondary method of transportation after public transit, then you are eligible for this inexpensive substitute.
What I'm trying to say is SEPTA has been low key providing benefits for me even when I’m not aware. It doesn't just get you to your destination, there is so much more. Coming into Temple University as a freshmen I was so excited about not only the beautiful campus, but also how an entire new (incredible) city was at my fingertips (or only a token away). I take SEPTA to work, to explore parts of the city, to find street art, to class, to nights out, and I take SEPTA home. Sure there are complaints if something goes wrong, but we should also applaud it when it goes right (and beyond the call of duty). It's an exciting time for the City of Philadelphia, already so rich with history but a new vision hopes to bring the city to an amazingly modern place. Hop on SEPTA and go explore.
