The Sign and the Fury: How Do You Solve a Problem Like SEPTA?

Smacktalking the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is akin to mocking the chubby kid with glasses on a school playground: both are easy targets. Philadelphians have a lot of strong feelings about SEPTA (warning for salty language in all those links), and if there’s one thing we know about Philadelphians, it’s that they never met a grievance they weren’t happy to air.

Could something like this logo design inspire changes in SEPTA? Photo: u/thesewordz

User “thesewordz” posted on r/Philadelphia yesterday with a self-designed suite of could-be SEPTA rebranding materials. The new logo was derided as “evil-looking” and derivative, and Redditors almost unanimously hated the idea of slapping a photo on bus passes. The thread did, however, ignite a lively conversation regarding changes that could make Philly’s public transportation system more user-friendly.

Quick, convenient ticketing options arose frequently as a suggestion. Smartphone users would like to use their handsets to speedily and easily buy passes, and that seems an easy enough process to implement – so much, in fact, that the Authority is already on it.

Another suggestion that met rousing agreement? Conductors and employees keeping a better eye out for misbehaving passengers. The problem of misconduct on the train took center stage this week when police started searching for a man who was, um, enjoying his commute a bit too much last Friday. Rumors of harassment, fights, and crime are widespread.

I myself wonder if SEPTA’s biggest need is one of the most elusive, and yet most effective intangibles of all: a reputation change. Philly deserves a transportations system of which it can be proud. Towards that end, maybe breaking the cycle of mockery is one place to start!