Some days, public transit is smooth sailing, while other times, it’s plagued by delays, making the morning commute a mixed bag. Most people don’t get enough sleep, so the morning commute can be a key time to catch a few more minutes of shut-eye before heading into work. But are some metro systems more comfortable than others? According to a recent study, Philadelphia’s very own SEPTA stands out as one of the more relaxing options.
The study, conducted by CPAP.com, evaluated international metro rail systems on how “sleep-friendly” they are, taking into account factors like the number of stations, busiest lines, punctuality, air conditioning in stations and cars, bathroom access, cleanliness, WiFi availability, city quality of life and more. The goal? To reveal which systems offer a comfortable environment for unwinding—and even sleeping—on your journey.
Following the Sydney Metro in Sydney, the TTC in Toronto and the Copenhagen Metro, Philadelphia’s SEPTA Metro snagged fourth place globally in sleep-friendliness. SEPTA’s cleanliness and customer satisfaction ratings don’t reach the top three (59.8 percent and 64 percent, respectively), but it does provide air conditioning, bathrooms and WiFi. Its saving grace? A reliable 81.25 percent on-time rate, sparing riders a good deal of stress and allowing them to plan a power nap accordingly.
SEPTA is the only U.S. metro system to make the top five, which wraps up with Metro Bilbao. The Chicago L, Cleveland’s RTA Rapid Transit and the New Jersey PATH make the top ten. Read more about the other global sleep-friendly systems here, and rest easy knowing that SEPTA is there for you on your way to work.