Results tagged “septa”

As promised, we hate TWU Local 234 now. The folks of TWU 234 have thoroughly established themselves as villains, and we'd like to recognize them for being bastardly sleazes out of a Medieval morality play. And now, the tour of vice!

This: At 8:42 this morning, an otherwise unidentified male who may have been a track inspector was struck and killed by an inbound R3 train near Melrose Park. The R2 (Warminster), R3 (West Trenton) and R5 (Lansdale/Doylestown) lines going beyond Fern Rock are all suspended at the moment due to the accident, which SEPTA is politely calling "police activity" on its website.

*Why yes—it is, in fact, Wednesday. And Monday Manners has been on hiatus for several months. But this seemed like an appropriate occasion to revive the post anyway.

The easiest solution is to hop on your bike and pedal your way to work. Biking to work is faster than driving, walking, or using public transit. We don't even need to mention the obvious health benefits of getting that half hour or so of exercise daily. According to the Bicycle Coalition, around 11,000 Philadelphians commute to work via bicycle each day, a number that makes us the city with the highest number of folks biking to work each day. And to help out those who decide to commute by bike during the SEPTA strike, the Bicycle Coalition will be setting up a "Bike the Strike" stand at Dilworth Plaza starting this afternoon and every day until the strike is over. The stand will have bike racks, free bike maps, and free coffee. For those new to biking in the city, or for those with questions about route planning and safety, the Coalition's Bike Ambassadors will be available to give out advice.

[Ed. note: We originally ran this post last week, before the SEPTA strike was, as we reported this morning, officially upon us. Now that the strike is in effect, we are running this post again to clarify, for those of you who may have missed it the first time, some of the inevitable questions about which services cease during the strike, and which don't.]

Despite all signs—and threats by Governor Rendell to really put the screws to both SEPTA and TWU Local 234—pointing to a SEPTA contract resolution without a work stoppage, the drivers' and mechanics' union has called a strike.

We love to hate SEPTA. It may be one of the best public transportation systems in the country, but that's cold comfort when your bus doesn't come, or the driver curses you, or when the people on board are doing convincing renditions of the elusive hyena-werewolf-zombie monster. But, that said, we depend on it. We depend on our trolleys, buses, and subways to go to work, school, the doctor, and the World F'ing Series.

SEPTA has published its Service Interruption Guide this morning, in light of continued contract talks between the union and the city and the pending strike. Here's a quick rundown of what you should know:

Hey Friday, Philly! Seems like you all pulled out for your boy Shane yesterday as it was announced that he won the final spot on the All-Star game roster. High fives all around! Go eat some Musubi and dance around in a grass skirt and a coconut bra tonight in celebration. We know we will.


• As it seems, the events that occured at Valley Swim club are taking more of a turn. It's become national news and everyone is pointing fingers at each other. One of the club's directors stated that the swim club doesn't discriminate and cited people of the black, Asian, Jewish and Russian communities as members. The state Human Relations Commissions is now investigating the allegations.
• Ladies, be careful out there. There's a reported groper hanging out on the Broad Street Line and previous attacks have occured during the day. Philly.com has a photo of the suspect from security cameras.
• Short Stories: Water main break in S.W. Philly. We haven't heard the last of the city pool closings. NFL bound rookie shot in Cheltenham.

Who needs an RSS feed when you have us? Bringing you the best of the 215...

Good Morning, Philadelphia. Can you feel that humidity? Get used to it because it's going to be sticky all day, followed by evening rain and thunderstorms! Color us surprised.
• Earlier this year, five firefighters settled claims of discrimination against them to the tune of $275,000. The men believed that they did not get promotions because they were white and the subjectivity of the oral portion of the exam led to frivilous deductions in points. The city refuses to eliminate the oral exam Will we be seeing a lot more of these types of cases?
• The latest in the Piazza murders: Police are suspecting that the shooters are from out of town because the men didn't even bother to cover their faces from the complex's numerous cameras. Maybe they're not from around here or maybe they're just incompetent criminals?
• To all Google lovers, SEPTA lovers, and those in in the middle of the Venn Diagram: Google Transit is in town! Head over to SEPTA.org to see for yourself.

Who needs an RSS feed when you have us? Bringing you the best of the 215 blogosphere this week...

• Arlene Ackerman laid out changes that must come to Philadelphia schools. Ackerman said that the school day must lengthen and the method for filling teaching vacancies and paying teachers must also change.
• The Pennsylvania Legislature is mulling over details of the state's annual budget. The fiscal year ends in less than a week. Here are some reasons why they should pass the budget on time.
• The tough times of the economy have reached Metrocorp, publisher of Philadelphia Magazine. An advertising employee was laid off and all employees must take a mandatory one-week, unpaid furlough.