- When using SEPTA service or within SEPTA facilities or vehicles (including paratransit), service animals must be leashed or harnessed.
- Service animals must be under control of the customer they serve. Snarling, picking fights, jumping up, barking/vocalizing, or threatening behaviors represent a safety concern for other SEPTA riders and will not be tolerated. (Exception: when a seizure alert animal is trained to alert by jumping up and pushing the owner down.)
- The owner is responsible for controlling and directing their service animal. Other riders are not permitted to hold a service animal’s leash.
- Service animals must not block the vehicle aisle, path of travel, or access to rail cars.
- Service animals must not occupy passenger seating in vehicles or in SEPTA facilities.
- To respect the health and safety of other riders and animals, customers accompanied by service animals are expected to clean up after their animals whenever necessary. If the animal wears a diaper, the diaper must be changed regularly to prevent intense malodor. Animals must be insect-free.
- Service animals appearing abused or mistreated will be reported to the appropriate organizations for follow-up.
SEPTA personnel are prohibited from taking a service animals’ leash or harness Personal may not assume responsibility or interfere with the duties of service animals.
- You are responsible for informing your vehicle operator or train crew member as to your preferred procedure for boarding and exiting yourself, your service animal, and any mobility aid used.
- It is the individual with a service animal’s responsibility to protect the service animal’s paws, nose, ears, tail, leash, harness, protective gear or equipment from getting caught in bus, van or rail car machinery, (lifts, ramps, doors, securements, etc).
- For safety reasons, SEPTA does not recommend passengers using mobility devices and service animals ride on wheelchair lifts at the same time.
- Note if the combined total weight of the mobility device, customer, and service animal exceeds 600 pounds SEPTA vehicle lifts will not be able to accommodate the two of you at once.
Service animals in training are welcome in SEPTA facilities and on SEPTA vehicles when leashed or harnessed. Service animals in training are still subject to the above terms and conditions. We recommend service animals in training wear identifying gear. You may be asked for identification verifying you are a trainer or affiliated with a training organization.
For group trips, call (215) 580-3424 to give advance notice. If you are traveling with an experienced animal and one in training, we recommend riding off peak. Please call ahead of time so we can notify operators and train crews.
Practice Sessions
Service animals and their owners or trainers can benefit from training with public transportation. Arrangements can be made for service animal users and trainers to practice during off-peak hours onboard SEPTA buses, trolleys, rail, or subway cars. Animals can learn to board, exit, move through vehicles, and become accustomed to platform noise and station environments. We can also help with daily riding. Call (215) 580-3424.
Law enforcement or emergency response personnel may bring their working animals on any SEPTA mode/route at any time if in uniform and with correct identification. Animals are subject to the above terms covering travel with any service animal.
Consistent with U.S. Department of Transportation ADA regulations, companion animals, pets, therapy, comfort, mental health, or emotional support animals are not classed as service animals for purposes of public transit, and cannot ride on SEPTA vehicles except in carriers. For this reason, SEPTA personnel may ask you about your animal and the services it provides to you.