SEPTA Subway and Bus
With cab prices going up again in June, why not get in the green groove and try public transportation? The high-speed Blue Line makes stops down Market every few blocks from 2nd to 63rd (including 34th and 40th). Heading to Center City is also quick and easy on the #34 trolley. It stops at 40th on its way down Baltimore, and it'll get you to City Hall in mere minutes. As for your above-ground options, Bus #21 is the best. It goes up and down Walnut and Chestnut and also stops at 40th and Spruce. The "Plan My Trip" option does all the thinking for you at septa.com.
Philly CarShare
The CarShare renders on-campus cars unnecessary in providing its members with a key to the city (no, seriously) any time you're in need. Here's how it works: say I want to go to the King of Prussia mall to buy some new kicks, but don't feel like splurging on a $50 cab rude. As a member of CarShare, I can go online to phillycarshare.org and book one of 24 different cars on an hourly basis. Available autos range from a Mini Cooper convertible to the Toyota Sienna minivan (a soccer mom's dream). The cars are parked at parking spaces called "pods" (not to be confused with everyone's favorite on-campus Stephen Starr). After I enter my desired pick-up and drop-off time for the car, the site shows me all the available cars nearby. Like all Philly CarShare members, I have a special key fob that opens any of PhillyCarShare's rides. And get this: when your tank is running low, the company picks up the gas tab. Every car has a gas card that can be used at most gas stations and bills PhillyCarShare rather than your own pocket. Of course, as gas prices increase, so do hourly rates, which depend on peak hours and fleet. Expect to pay anywhere from $5.90 to $12 per hour or $49 per day plus tax. Membership is free, and as long as you have at least two consecutive years of driving experience and a clean record, you're in.
Regional Rail
Want to get away? Look no further than SEPTA Regional Rail. Visiting Nana and PopPop in the 'burbs is a breeze with these trains. Even if your family doesn't live out on the Main Line, Regional Rail is a great way to explore extra-Philadelphia areas like Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Villanova, Ardmore and Manayunk. For all the Mac nerds out there, Ardmore houses the closest official Apple store 15 minutes away at Suburban Square, which can be directly accessed by rail for a mere $3.50 via the R3. Suburban Square also has a Cold Stone, J. Crew, Macy's and American Eagle, in case you're sick of sparkly spandex. On a tight budget? It's also a cheap way to get to the airport in 20 minutes (the R1) or even to Trenton (the R7), which will give you a transfer to NYC (through NJ Transit). All eleven trains can be accessed at 30th Street Station or University City Station (at South Street and Convention Avenue), and timetables are available at septa.com.
LUCY
If you're not ready to take on the whole SEPTA shebang, choose LUCY (the not-so-obvious acronym standing for Loop through University City), which is free with your PennCard. She's really easy and a great ride. During peak hours (weekdays 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.), she's doing her "golden loop" at 34th & Spruce, 38th & Spruce and 40th & Walnut every 10 minutes heading to the Presbyterian Medical Center, 34th and Market and 30th Street Station. Off-peak loops (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) are every half hour. Catch the last ride just before 7, stopping at 6:58 p.m. at 40th and Walnut. From any of the stops, you'll be at 30th Street in around 20 minutes. The "green loop" travels counterclockwise, also stopping at 40th and Walnut. And if you're just looking for a nice, lazy ride to DRL, catch it from 40th and Walnut at 10:47 and you'll make it to 11 a.m. class a few minutes early. For more information on specific stops, check out www.ucityphila.org/cityguide/transportation/lucy.
