“SEPTA is the vehicle, but the journey is yours.” The Authority’s trains, buses and trolleys transport people across the Philadelphia region, but where riders choose to go as they “SEPTA” Philly is entirely up to them. And the recently re-designed iseptaphilly.com website can serve as a commuter’s treasure map – full of ideas for places to visit, lists of discounts for SEPTA pass holders and links to SEPTA schedules, maps and a trip planner.
“When we launched ‘ISEPTAPHILLY’ last year, the goal was to have our commuters, especially those between the ages of 18-34, upload videos and Instagram photos of their mass transit stories to inspire others to use our system,” said SEPTA Director of Marketing Elizabeth Bradford. “The site has evolved into a place not only where our current riders can submit their SEPTA experiences via photos and emails, but it is also the spot where new and potential riders can get information they need to create their own SEPTA stories.”
Among iseptaphilly.com’s new features are “How-to-SEPTA” videos. Through four, two-minute user-friendly videos, website visitors learn how to navigate the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, buses, trolleys and Regional Rail, and make connections between modes. “The videos use real SEPTA riders as tour guides and break down fare information and key transfer points,” said Bradford.
The site is chock full of must-see places across the region – all accessible by SEPTA – and discount perks customers can take advantage of simply by presenting their SEPTA passes. There are also details on how to score cool prizes, from the in-demand “If It’s SEPTA, Ride It” t-shirts to museum passes and concert tickets, by participating in the “ISEPTAPHILLY Scavenger Hunt” for old Regional Rail signs and checking in using Foursquare.
The Authority launched its ISEPTAPHILLY campaign in spring 2012 to attract the next generation of public transit riders. In unscripted commercials, customers in the 18-34 targeted age group reminisce about the first time they rode SEPTA when they were kids.
“SEPTA is so much more than a way to get to and from work or school,” said Bradford. “It’s a means for exploring places across the city and region you might have never known existed. We want iseptaphilly.com to be the starting point for those adventures.” Riders can document their SEPTA travels by submitting photos to the authority’s Instagram feed. Photos are showcased on iseptaphilly.com.
For more information on how to ISEPTAPHILLY, visit http://iseptaphilly.com.