Paying For Bus Rides In Philadelphia: A Guide

Philadelphia's public transport system, SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), offers a range of options for getting around the city, including buses, trains, subways, and trolleys. With over 120 bus routes, the bus system is large and sees heavy use. Buses accept two forms of payment: cash or the SEPTA Key card. Cash payments are a flat $2.50 per person, per bus, and must be the exact amount as operators cannot make change. The SEPTA Key card is a reloadable, contactless chip card that can be loaded with passes or travel funds. The card costs $4.95, but this amount is refunded to your card when registered and can be used for future travel. Using the SEPTA Key card for buses costs $2 per ride, with the first and second transfers free.

Paying by cash

When riding a bus in Philadelphia, you have two payment options: cash or the SEPTA Key Card. If you opt for cash, you will need to pay a flat rate of $2.50 per person, per bus ride. It is important to note that you must have the exact change as the operator cannot make change.

When paying in cash, you will need to deposit the money into the farebox. The farebox is located near the bus operator, who is the person driving the bus. Typically, the bus operator will be sitting in a closed-off area at the front of the bus, and the farebox will be located near the entrance of the bus.

Once you have boarded the bus, you will have a choice of seating options. If you prefer to sit, you can take a seat and enjoy the ride until you reach your stop. Alternatively, if you would like to stand, you can hold onto one of the poles or straps available and prepare to steady yourself as the bus moves.

As your destination approaches, you will need to signal to the bus operator that you would like to get off at the next stop. To do this, you can pull one of the yellow cords located by the windows or push one of the red "STOP" squares on the poles near the back door. If you are waiting by the back door, you may need to ask the bus operator to open it for you once the bus reaches your stop.

It is important to follow bus etiquette when riding. This includes allowing people to exit before boarding, yielding designated seats to seniors and disabled riders, keeping music private by using earbuds or headphones, and being mindful of phone calls by keeping them brief and quiet. Additionally, remember to gather all your belongings before leaving the bus and stay on the curb until the bus pulls away.

Paying with a SEPTA Key card

The SEPTA Key card is a reloadable, contactless chip card that can be loaded with passes and/or travel funds. The card costs $4.95, but this cost is refunded to your card's travel wallet when you register the card at septakey.org. Cards must be registered within 30 days of purchase.

To purchase a SEPTA Key card, you can visit a SEPTA Sales Office, Station Fare Kiosk, or a retailer within the service area. To register your card, go to septakey.org and click "Register My New Card." You will need to create an account and fill in your information, including your new Key card number. Once you have registered your card, you can load/reload your passes and travel funds at Fare Kiosks, online at septakey.org, or by using the SEPTA App.

When boarding the bus, simply tap your SEPTA Key card on the "validator" located next to the bus operator. The cost per ride is $2, and your first and second transfers are free.

Benefits of the SEPTA Key card

• The card can be loaded with daily, weekly, or monthly passes, or funds can be stored in the Travel Wallet function of the card.
• Weekly passes include up to 56 trips and monthly passes include up to 240 trips, providing significant savings compared to paying per ride.
• The card includes up to two free transfers on the bus and metro within 2 hours.
• The card can be registered to protect your passes and travel funds if the card is lost or stolen.
• The SEPTA Key card can be used for seamless travel across multiple transit options, including buses, trolleys, subways, and regional rail.

Paying with a smartphone

Riders can now use their smartphones to pay for fares on SEPTA buses, a convenient and easy way to get around Philadelphia. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has introduced a mobile ticketing platform, allowing riders to pay with just a few taps on their phones. This method of payment is available on both Android and Apple devices through the SEPTA app.

To use your phone to pay for bus fares, you will need to download the SEPTA app and set up an account. This account is linked to your SEPTA Key Card, which is a reloadable, contactless chip card. The card itself can be purchased from SEPTA Sales Offices, Station Fare Kiosks, or authorised retailers. The card costs $4.95, but this amount is refunded to your card's Travel Wallet when you register it online.

Once you have set up your account and linked your card, you can then download a QR code ticket, which can be scanned at fareboxes and turnstiles. This ticket allows you to pay for yourself and up to four others travelling with you, as the single barcode can be scanned multiple times. This feature is especially useful for families or groups of friends travelling together.

While the mobile ticketing platform is now available for buses, subways, and trolleys, it is not yet an option for Regional Rail. SEPTA plans to begin testing mobile payments for Regional Rail in 2023, as they are still working on installing smartphone readers along those routes.

Paying with a contactless bankcard

To pay with a contactless bankcard, simply hold your card over the reader on the farebox when you board the bus. The reader will emit a beep or light up to indicate that your payment has been accepted, and you can then proceed to find a seat.

Contactless bankcard payments are a convenient and quick way to pay for your bus fare, eliminating the need for cash or a transit card. It is a safe and secure method of payment, and you will be charged the standard bus fare for your trip.

In addition to contactless bankcards, SEPTA also accepts mobile payments through their app, SEPTA Key Tix. This allows riders to download a QR code ticket to their smartphone, which can then be scanned at the farebox. This is a useful option for those who prefer to use their phones for payments and want to avoid carrying physical cards or cash.

Free rides for seniors

Philadelphia's public transport system, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), offers free rides for seniors on all its fixed transit routes. To qualify, you must be 65 or older and have a SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card.

The SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card is available free of charge from participating local transit operators. You can apply for the card on the SEPTA website. This card also gives you free transit on all SEPTA Regional Rail lines for travel to/from stations located in Pennsylvania and a 50% discount for travel to/from New Jersey and Delaware.

In addition to free rides on fixed transit routes, seniors in Philadelphia can also benefit from SEPTA's CCT Connect program, which offers door-to-door transportation to registered city residents age 65 and older. To register for either program, call CCT (Customized Community Transportation) Customer Service on weekdays at (215) 580-7145.

Outside of Philadelphia, seniors in Pennsylvania can benefit from the Free Transit Program for Senior Citizens, which allows those aged 65 and older to ride free on local fixed-route services. To qualify, you will need a senior citizen transit identification card, available free of charge from participating local transit operators.

Frequently asked questions