Bostonist: Focus on: Signage - Pay Up

LarryB

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:38:22 -0500

I was astounded by the messed-up fare collection system in Boston. Even NYC made certain that all stations took tokens while MetroCards were being introduced. Boston is the only place I've ever been where stations require arbitrary forms of payment, some demanding Charlie Cards only and others tokens only. Utterly and totally moronic.

BostonNewbie

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:47:47 -0500

What Peter Kim says is so sadly true. Boston's absence of signage is appalling.

Geoff Green

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:28:17 -0500

The "official sign" outbound at Tappan Street (and I suspect other stops along the C Line) contains a list of the closest Charlie Card retailers. Among them is the Star Market (directly across the street from the stop) -- mislabeled as a Shaws. Except that aside from that sign outside, the store identifies itself as a Shaws. The receipts; the signs inside the store, the discount cards, everything. Why do they keep the Star sign outside? Who knows. But it is not a huge error for the MBTA to call the store a Shaw's.

BStu

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 10:32:32 -0500

In fairness to the original poster, the official signs didn't go up for about a week or two. Before that, the only notices were on printed memos flimsily posted in late December. The official signs are good, but they should have been posted no later than January 1. A lot of hand-written signs like this went up at the start of the month to deal with the issue. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if some stops still lacked the proper signage.

Peter Kim

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:23:59 -0500

Signs? In Boston? I don't think it's legal to post clear, professional looking signs that are actually helpful.

Mark

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:17:48 -0500

@TR You're right, there are "official signs" on the C & D lines. Hardly surprising, these "official signs" also include incorrect information. The "official sign" outbound at Tappan Street (and I suspect other stops along the C Line) contains a list of the closest Charlie Card retailers. Among them is the Star Market (directly across the street from the stop) -- mislabeled as a Shaws. Now, we Bostonians know that Star Market & Shaws are one and the same, but would an out of towner know better? Shouldn't someone be checking the details?

TR

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:56:16 -0500

There are also official signs on the C and D lines. The author of this posting should check their facts...

Charlie D.

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:07:02 -0500

Many of the stops on the B line have official signs saying "PLEASE PAY OUTBOUND FARE" in large green letters. I noticed them especially at the BU stops.