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| Home > City Guide - Philadelphia - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport Philadelphia is easy to navigate, thanks to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority – SEPTA (tel: (215) 580 7800; website: www.septa.org), who operate interconnecting buses, streetcars, subway and commuter trains. Operating hours for these services vary and some bus routes operate all night. Fares on most routes are US$2.00 (exact change is required) and tickets are available for purchase from ticket offices and machines at the station or upon boarding. Token discount packs are also available. All SEPTA’s buses are lift-equipped for wheelchair access. SEPTA’s day pass is good for a full day of unlimited travel on all modes of transport, plus a one-way trip on the Airport Rail Line (R1). It costs US$5.50 and is sold at the visitor centre at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard. Weekly and monthly passes are also available for US$18.75 and US$70 respectively. The purple Phlash (tel: (215) 4 PHLASH or 474 5274; website: www.phillyphlash.com) shuttle bus runs a continuous loop around the city centre to the major attractions, from the Art Museum to Penn’s Landing. Buses stop every ten-15 minutes, at the special Phlash lampposts and services operate from 25 May to 3 September, 1000-2400 and 4 September to 23 May 1000-1800. An all-day pass costs US$4, while single trips are US$2 and family fares US$10. Tickets and passes are available on the bus (exact change is required) or at hotels. Delaware River Port Authority RiverLink Ferry, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey (tel: (215) 925-LINK; website: www.riverlinkferry.org) provides a ferry service between Penn’s Landing, Walnut Street and Columbus Boulevard in Philadelphia, and the New Jersey State Aquarium, Federal Street and Riverside Drive in Camden, from 23 March to 30 November. Crossings take 12 minutes and leave every 40 minutes, daily 0900-1740. Tickets cost US$5 and are available at dockside terminals. Taxis Taxis are easily hailed in the street throughout Center City. There are taxi ranks at the Greyhound terminal, 1001 Filbert Street, and outside 30th Street station, as well as outside many hotels. Taxi companies offering a telephone service include City Cab Co (tel: (215) 492 6500), Liberty Cab Co (tel: (215) 389 8000) and Quaker City Cab (tel: (215) 728 8000). Rates start at US$1.80 and rise by US$1.80 per mile. A tip of 15% is generally expected. Limousines Many companies offer limousine services around the city. These include CAR ONE Sedan & Limousine (tel: (800) 787 2271; website: www.car1limo.com), Boston Coach (tel: (800) 672 7676 or (610) 521 0500; website: www.bostoncoach.com), King Limousines & Transportation (tel: (800) 245 5460; website: www.kinglimousine.com) and Hermes Transportation (tel: (610) 458-1090; website: www.marsh-creek.com). Rates start at US$65 per hour for stretch limousines and US$55 per hour for sedans. Driving in the City With such a compact city centre and good public transport, a car is not necessary in central Philadelphia, although it is useful for excursions to outlying areas. Nevertheless, driving is pleasurable, as navigating is easy – streets are laid out on a grid system. Numbered streets run north–south and named streets run east–west. The main thoroughfares are Broad Street and Market Street – at their intersection is City Hall. As in any large city, the downtown area can sometimes become clogged with traffic, especially during rush hours (0700-0930 and 1530-1830). There are many parking lots and garages located around the city centre. On-street parking is also available in Center City but visitors should look at the posted signs for restrictions on when parking is allowed. Meters generally cost US$0.25 per 20 minutes, although these do vary. Car Hire The minimum rental age is generally 25 years but some companies will rent cars to drivers aged between 21 and 24 years, at a higher charge. Those wishing to hire a car must be in possession of a full national driving licence. Third party liability insurance is included in car hire rates. Among the major car hire companies operating in Philadelphia are Alamo (tel: (215) 492 3960 or (800) 327 9633; website: www.goalamo.com), Avis (tel: (800) 331 1212; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (800) 527 0700; website: www.drivebudget.com), Dollar (tel: (800) 800 4000; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: (800) RENT-A-CAR; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: (800) 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (800) 227 7368; website: www.nationalcar.com). Inclusive rates start at around US$60 per day. Bicycle Hire Trophy Bikes, 311 Market Street (tel: (215) 625 7999; website: www.trophybikes.com), hires out bicycles by the day, for US$25, or half-day, for US$18. Prices include lock and helmet. The company also offers guided bike tours (see Tours of the City section in Sightseeing). Bicycles can also be hired in Fairmount Park at Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive (tel: (215) 232 7368). Rates are US$8 for an hour or US$20 for four hours. |
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