Rider Rant: Christopher

There are tons of SEPTA entrances/exits at City Hall. Unfortunately, a bunch of them are boarded up and look like they've been unused for many years. Rider Christopher shares his story of trying to help out some tourists find the BSL by City Hall...

I was walking home from the Old City after-party for the national BarCamp NewsInnovation, happy as could be about the beautiful night and talking Philly beer with out-of-towners who came for the conference.

I was heading to the Broad Street Line, deciding to walk Market because it was so nice, when I saw a couple fumbling with a map. I asked if they needed help, to which they inquired where might they find the BSL. Head right for City Hall, straight ahead and take one of the clearly demarcated entrances. They stopped for an ATM, and I kept walking -- thrilled tourists would be in town on such a beautiful night.

I got to City Hall to find both BSL entrances sealed with their foreboding iron gates, without any reason why or signage telling outsiders that other entrances are just a few hundred feet west underneath Dilworth plaza. I turned back to find the couple to whom I gave directions but couldn't find them. I walked through City Hall to get to the other entrances and realized how someone unfamiliar with the city would never find these other dimly lit entrances.

Happy tourists desirous of a ride on our transit agency think they found a proud and helpful Philadelphian and instead are led to a dead-end without any help from SEPTA directing them elsewhere. That sucks, and it bothers me still, the next day.

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