Calling Out SEPTA On Diesel Buses

An enterprising Philadelphian sent an email to my boss late last week remarking on a trip to Toronto. It seems in the city is known for more than just being clean; it also has electric trolleys. SEPTA, meanwhile, recently purchased 400 new hybrid buses, which run on diesel fuel.

Our traveler went upon himself to inform Philadelphians of this situation in the best way possible (click to enlarge):

The text reads:

SEPTA’s new “hybrid” buses burn diesel fuel. Thousands of gallons, each and every day.

If we cared, we would buy new clean zero-emissions electric trolley cars, instead.

But we don’t care. And you can’t make us.

We’re SEPTA. Third-rate in every way.

Mocking SEPTA is kind of an official Philadelphia Will Do pastime, and I have to say this is simply a fantastic effort — especially the placement of the ad. Five stars.

Want to make your own fun? Here’s the flier as a .pdf. But you better print it out on recycled paper!!

Phila. To NYC, For A Buck

A reader directs me to BoltBus, a new-ish replacement from Greyhound for the Chinese Bus. It departs a few times from 30th Street station to New York daily, and fares are as low as $1. One dollar! It gets better: The bus has free Wi-Fi.

The FAQ explains the deal with this incredibly amazing-sounding bus that I’m guessing might just be a late April Fool’s joke: “Our fares will start @ $1 (plus a transaction or booking fee), with a minimum of one $1 fare available on every schedule we operate every day. The fares we charge will vary by day of week, overall passenger demand and how many days until the travel will take place.”

Sadly, though, the FAQ also contains a few caveats that come along with BoltBus: You gotta get there 15 minutes early, and you’re not allowed to bring corpses on the bus. Aw, man.

Kids Get Day Off Due To Incompetence

With the temperatures hovering around 10 degrees this week in the morning, the news media is jumping on any sort of story possibly involving the cold it can. (This is normal. It’s okay, it should pass soon enough.)

So comes the tale of the students stuck on the frigid schol bus. The news stations had it yesterday, I think, and the Daily News has it this morning. (And now I have it. See, everyone’s guilty.)

The school bus broke down at 9th and Dickinson in South Philly yesterday at around 8:15. The students were apparently in the bus for a little less than three hours; they were only moved to a nearby school after a student called 911. (Way to go, adults in charge!)

Eventually, students called their parents from the other school. Here’s how the DN describes the ordeal of Vikera Wilkins and Aikiem Maxie, two nine-year-old brothers. (Uhh, how does that work?) The boys’ mother, Latasha Signil eventually got a call.

About 12:30 p.m., Signil took her children to their own school, Folk Art Charter, and they picked up their homework.

Then it was home for dinner, homework, a warm bath and bed.

Wait. Those kids got to go home just after noon? Screw the cold, I bet those kids are as happy as they can be. Three-day weekend! (And a warm bath to boot!)

Bus snafu leaves pupils in the cold [Daily News]
Cold start today [Philly Weather]

Breaking: Bus Crashes Into House