January 27-February 2, 2005

cover story

Let's Go.

Illustration By: Dana Reeves

33 ways to reinvent, rethink and recharge our beleaguered transit agency. Other cities around the world have cool public transportation systems. Why can't we?

by Duane Swierczynski

I saw the most depressing sign on the bus last week: YOUR WORLD IS GETTING SMALLER. It was a SEPTA house ad, warning people that unless the state finds more money for public transit, riders should brace for severe service cutbacks. Two images are shown: the existing schedule (pretty skimpy as it is) and an abbreviated version with not a single bus running over the weekend.

Talk about beating up on the wrong people.

Why not cut to the chase: ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME YOU BOUGHT A CAR, YOU SLACK-ASS?

Needless to say, this is the wrong approach. We shouldn't have to give up what little we have. We shouldn't have to beg, plead and protest to keep what little we have. In fact — and I'm going out on a limb here — we should expect more.

As the governor, state legislature and SEPTA wrangle over financial Band-Aids, I think it's time to take a longer view, beyond what SEPTA currently offers, and imagine a dream transit agency: a public transportation system that's a source of civic pride and one that would encourage people to leave their SUVs at home to hop trains and buses. You know, the kind of system your friends in New York City, D.C., London and Paris are always bragging about.

I mean, goddamned Prague has a better transit system.

Forget SEPTA as it exists now. I say destroy it. Now that we've reached rock-bottom, it's time to rebuild from the ground up, cost be damned.

Taking our inspiration from cities around the world, here's what we think it should look like.

See the list.

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