The lack of public transportation caused by the SEPTA strike that began early Tuesday morning is taking its toll on the Temple community.
“It’s the only way I can get to school unless I pay a taxi,” sophomore international business major Trisha Swed said. “I use it anywhere from two to six trips a day depending on my schedule.”
The strike is forcing students to find other means of transportation if they plan on being present in class.
“It costs me $15 just to get here, without even going home. Now I’m paying taxis and going completely broke until it’s over,” said Swed. “Hopefully it will be over soon.”
The strike is not only affecting students.
“It took me 25 minutes to ride 6.7 miles to school today, so if I sound a little froggy or look a little disheveled, that’s why,” said Assistant Professor Shenid Bhayroo, Ph.D. from the Department of Journalism jokingly to his class.
From students to teachers to administrative faculty, numerous people are being required to look towards alternative forms of transportation.
“I usually take the subway everywhere, so when I heard [about the strike] on the news this morning, I said ‘oh no, I’m going to have to walk’,” said Brian Basenfelder, a clerical employee in Temple’s undergraduate admissions office who is now being compelled to walk twice a day for a total of 80 minutes to get to and from work each day.
Despite the inconvenience, Temple University will hold all classes and events as scheduled, and employees are expected to arrive to work on time. However, departments are permitted to adjust schedule times in order to avoid peak transportation hours. Temple will also be providing reduced-rate parking and are encouraging its students and faculty to partake in carpooling.
The length of the strike is uncertain. SEPTA officials declined to comment on the issue.
“If the Phillies win the World Series, I think it will be settled,” Basenfelder predicted. “If not, I give it another week and a half.”
Grace Dickinson can be reached at grace.dickinson@temple.edu.
I have to walk for 3 hours to get to my job. The mayor needs to come up with a plan for when septa goes on strike again to eventually start a new transportation company.
i just moved here to be wit my family and trying to find jobs now i have to walk everywhere i think if they can go on strike anytime they want they should be fired and hire ppl that are satisfied with the pay septa ppl are money hogs we barely can pay the bus fare
i didn’t attend school and is hoping that i don’t get in trouble about not gong to school because even though i didn’t go i still had made an effort to get my project in no matter what and i hope i didn’t fail no classes due to septa cause i wasn’t able to get to skool and do work before grades went in i was reall mad at septa due to the fact i live in west philly and i attend mastbaum and didn’t have any way to get there and i feel as though all the septa workers need to give out apologizes to every one who ride septa no matter what was the cause of the situation