Getting around Center City if your SEPTA route is cut

1. If you are able to walk: Philadelphia's downtown is compact. A person of average ability can walk from City Hall to either the Delaware or the Schuylkill riverfront in about 30 minutes/

2. If you prefer to bike: Indego bike share now has more than 200 stations, with 30 locations added in 2025, expanding service into Roxborough, Port Richmond, and Cobbs Creek. Riders took 142,000 trips in July, the program's busiest month ever. A ride from Fishtown to City Hall takes about 18 minutes. From University City to Center City, it's under 10. Use promo code indecycle25 this September for a $1 Indego30 pass. Other Indego pricing options include:

1. Single Ride: $4.50 for one 30-minute ride on a classic bike. (E-bikes: extra 30 cents per minute; rides over 30 minutes: extra 30 cents per minute.)

2. Guest Pass: $15 for 24 hours of unlimited 60-minute rides on classic bikes. (E-bikes: extra 20 cents per minute; rides over 60 minutes: 20 cents per minute.)

3. Indego30: $20 per month of unlimited 60-minute rides on classic bikes. (E-bikes: extra 20 cents per minute; rides over 60 minutes: 20 cents per minute.)

4. Indego365: $156 per year ($13 per month) for unlimited 60-minutes rides on classic bikes. (E-bikes: extra 20 cents per minute; rides over 60 minutes: 20 cents per minute.)

5. Indego365 Plus: $230 per year ($19.17 per month) with two 30-minute e-bike rides included daily, then 20 cents per minute for additional e-bike time.

3. If you want a shuttle option: The purple Philly PHLASH bus loops through Center City, connecting Penn's Landing, the Art Museum, and other attractions. It runs every 15 minutes during the day. Find route maps and schedules here.

1. Cost: $2 per person per ride, $5 for a one-day pass, and $12 for a family pass (two adults and two kids). Children 4 and under and seniors always ride free.

2. Two-day pass: $9 online only (consecutive days, no fees).

If you're commuting from South Jersey and you can't take SEPTA

1. PATCO Speedline: Runs between Lindenwold and Center City with downtown stops at Eighth and Market Streets, Ninth/10th and Locust Streets, 12th/13th and Locust Streets, and 15th/16th and Locust Streets. Starting Sept. 1, weekday overnight trains (midnight to 4:30 am Monday to Friday) will be suspended through March 1 for maintenance and cleaning. Weekend late-night service remains unaffected. Rider info.

2. NJ Transit: South Jersey bus routes connect through the Ben Franklin Bridge, and the River Line light Rail runs between Camden and Trenton, linking to Amtrak and other NJ Transit services. Trip planner.

Getting to the airport

1. SEPTA Airport Line: Starting Sept. 2, trains will shift from every 30 minutes to every hour throughout the day.

Taxis and rideshares

1. Taxis: Dispatch numbers include 215-666-6666 (Philadelphia Taxi Service) or 215-333-3333 (215-Get-A-Cab).

2. Rideshares: Uber and Lyft operate throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.

3. Uber Route Share: A new option launched in Philadelphia in May, billed as Uber's "most affordable ride." Route Share rides run on set schedules among busy commuter corridors, with pickups every 20 minutes during rush hours (6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.). Fares are advertised as up to 50% cheaper than UberX but require riders to walk to a pickup point and share the ride with up to two others.

Park-and-ride options

1. The city has mapped park-and-ride lots near transit hubs so drivers can avoid taking cars into Center City, especially during peak rush hour.

2. The Philadelphia Parking Authority is also evaluating "pop-up" parking near outlying transit stops. Travelers can check the ParkMobile app for updates and payment options.

Active travel, if you're able

1. Circuit Trails Network: Philadelphia's regional trail system connects city neighborhoods with suburban routes, useful for cyclists making part of their trip without SEPTA.

How the city is responding to changes to SEPTA

The city is adjusting its own operations to manage congestion:

1. The Traffic Operations Center will run from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. to adjust signals and coordinate emergency repairs.

2. Street inspectors will patrol for unpermitted work or closures before 9 a.m.

3. The PPA will step up enforcement of peak clearance lanes, including along North Broad Street.

4. Call 911 for urgent traffic issues (like damaged signals).

5. Call 311 for nonurgent issues (like potholes or signage).