Bostonist: Charlie – One Stingy Bastard

Steve

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:16:37 -0500

I've noticed on the Green B that people will hop on the back doors sit down and not bother paying, even after the T driver asks a few times. Once they even pointed someone out specifically, who still did not bother to go up and pay. The T resumes...

Joe

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 22:39:30 -0500

I've been riding the Green D and C Lines now from since the outboud fares were reinstated, and it's a humorous experience. The driver still opens all doors. Commuters hop on the train without paying, and the driver announces that those who boarded without paying are to walk up to the front of the train to pay. Even if they wanted to, there would be no possibility of walking through the crowded car to get to the driver to pay the fare. Also, I frequently avail myself of the commuter rail from South Station to Yawkey, which fare used to be covered by the montly subway pass. How are the train conductors handling collecting fares now from riders with Charlie Cards/Tickets?

Brian

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:10:44 -0500

Remind me again how a column in a newspaper qualifies as a comprehensive and conspicious announcement? It wasn't even the lead in the column. Not reading the Globe one day in November hardly qualifies as not paying attention. All of their "simplification" measures to the fare policy were under announced by the MBTA.

Steve

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 12:51:53 -0500

iandavid, Will the machines be smart enough to know to charge the card? Like if I have a friend in town and we go out and use the T or a bus and I use my LinkPass, if I then tap it a second time for my friend will it then deduct money off the card (which I did add so I could pay for non-LinkPass expenses). I want to make sure before I do this, since I do have a few friends coming to visit soon. thanks!

Amish Al

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 21:03:29 -0500

Yep, the mass transit system is much easier to understand and to use now that we've "embraced new technology".

jon

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:17:07 -0500

what - so we're supposed to remember the beginning of november now? ;)

yep

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:03:17 -0500

Except that it had been announced and you didn't pay attention. The first mention is here (Nov 5) http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/05/media_fail_to_track_drama_on_the_mbta/

iandavid

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 13:01:57 -0500

The Sunday guest program is officially dead. The "passback privilege" explained to you by a T employee only applies to stored value cards and tickets, and is not restricted to Sundays. It basically amounts to you paying twice -- once for yourself and once for your guest. This will not work if you are a passholder, unless (I believe) your CharlieCard also has stored value on it, in which case the fare of your guest will be deducted from your card.