The next bus might not be free
Today Metro Transit was offering free rides on all the new “Go Greener” Hybrid buses, running on the 17 and 18 lines. I knew about the promotion, but many people didn’t, so the driver on my first trip of the day was saying things like “Free ride today on this bus” as people got on. When we got to 24th and Lyndale, an older man was the last to board, after 2 people walked past the farebox.
You could see him holding the 50ยข senior citizen fare in his slightly shaky hand, and oddly enough, a tennis racquet. He moved towards the farebox, but it was covered up, so the driver again said “Free ride today”. I couldn’t hear if he said anything, but he paused and then slowly turned around and started to leave the bus.
The driver again tried to explain that the ride was free today, and the next bus might not be free, but the man just continued off the bus to wait for the next 17.
Nov 20th, 2007 at 11:21 am
What time of day was it? If it was near rush hour, that would have been a huge bummer for that guy. A lot of elderly folks get out just before rush hour to get their $.50 fares and if the farebox on the bus they’re expecting to get the reduced rate on isn’t working, or in this case, isn’t in use, then they have to get lucky and find another bus before the $2.00 rate kicks in.
Or maybe he was just confused…
Nov 20th, 2007 at 11:37 am
MTA should have a “Hat” farebox cover with professional written on the “Hat” cover “Your ride is free”, I’ve seen in other state, they have a “Hat” cover with “This farebox is out of order and your ride is free”.
they can do both cover features on farebox and Go-To reader with professional written on it.
Nov 21st, 2007 at 10:52 pm
They have hoods for the fare boxes that get used for promotions like this. I’m surprised that the bus in question didn’t have one…
Nov 24th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I’ve been driving them since after the promotion and people still think they can ride them free. Seems they think it was a lifetime promotion!
Nov 27th, 2007 at 1:33 am
I had a fare box die mid route I can’t recall how many times. One day, I caught one the shelter maintnanace guys, and got a 55 gal Bright YELLOW trash bag from him. It covrered the fare box top to bottem. I STILL had passengers getting on, staring at it blindly, not knowing what to do.
Feb 24th, 2008 at 12:37 am
OR, when you have a farebox out of order and it’s covered (I carry plastic bags in MY bag to use as emergency hoods) I have had:
A; People insist on paying anyway, with one memorable lady attempting to lift the hood to get to the coin slot
B;the situation as described by the OP, with the confused rider, unable to pay their fare opting to exit the bus despite my pleading.
C; (and this happens a LOT) being asked for a transfer (from a DEAD farebox after receiving a FREE ride in the first place….
Feb 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
People are basically stupid. You could put up the most obvious sign for anything and people won’t know what to do.