Photo Credit: Getty Images
Commuters Stranded as Philly Transit Workers Strike
PHILADELPHIA (AP) November 3, 2009 —
Commuters scrambled to find other ways to get to their destinations as Philadelphia transit system's largest
union went on strike early Tuesday, stalling the city's buses, subways and trolleys a day after the World Series shifted to New York.
The strike by Transport Workers Union Local 234 will all but cripple a transit system that averages more than 928,0000 trips each weekday.
Over 810,000 riders rely on SEPTA to get to work and school.
The announcement came just hours after the Phillies beat the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series,
the last game to be played at Citizens Bank Park. The strike was effective as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The doors to subway stations were gated off Tuesday and no buses crawled the streets in the city's downtown corridor.
Commuters trying to get to work said they had to make last-minute accommodations when they awoke to word of a strike.
"We don't deserve to wake up at 3 o'clock in the morning to find out if there's a strike," said Jeffrey Chandler, 49,
who had to call a friend for a ride to SEPTA's regional rail line so he could get to his job as a hotel room attendant.
Chandler, who usually takes three buses to get to his train station,
said he's not sure how he'll get home. "I have no idea," he said.
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Philadelphia Bicycle Manufacturer Offers Special Deals through its Local Dealer Network
PHILADELPHIA (November 3, 2009) —
In conjunction with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia bicycle manufacturer, Fuji, has responded to the strike quickly. In the campaign to “Bike the Strike,” Fuji is offering special deals on bicycles through its local dealer network giving SEPTA users a dependable way to get to work.
"We are offering three different commuter bike models at great prices," said Fuji spokeswoman, Kaitlyn Gang. “We want to give people the opportunity to take matters into their own hands – a bike is the most dependable (economical, efficient, and environmentally sound) way to get to and from work.”
Bikes will be distributed from Fuji’s Northeast Philadelphia warehouse to Fuji dealers in and out of the city starting on Tuesday and continuing until the strike is over.
To assist the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the strike, the Bicycle Coalition has set up a service station and bike parking at City Hall. The BCGP Bicycle Ambassadors will also be on site to assist people in planning their bike commute to work, or to answer technical or safety questions.
Visit Fuji Bikes and Bicycle Coalition for more information on “Bike the Strike”!
For media inquiries contact Kaitlyn Gang -
kgang@advancedsports.com
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Palisade 1.0 (regularly $470 / now $299)
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Crosstown 2.0 (regularly $470 / now $329)
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Odessa 1.0 (regularly $340 / now $239) 
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Other Bike The Strike Events
Courtesy of the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia
1 – FREE Bike the Strike Service Station at local bike shops
2 – FREE Bike the Strike Service Station and FREE Bike Corral Parking at City Hall
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