Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The MTA’s decision to permanently end cash payments at station booths drew the ire of advocates and politicians Thursday, who accused transit honchos of depriving access to tickets for riders without bank accounts.
“Governor Cuomo must let transit riders pay with cash at subway booths. With one-third of New York City residents unbanked or underbanked, cash remains essential for millions of people.” said Betsy Plum the executive director of Riders Alliance in a June 24 statement.
At an MTA press conference on June 24, Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren said, in response to a reporter’s question, that the agency would continue its pandemic-era ban on cash transactions at the booths indefinitely, citing the rollout of its OMNY tap-payment system as making the booth transactions redundant.
“We currently do not plan to resume cash transactions in the booths,” Warren said. “We’re changing to the new OMNY system, which is the largest change that’s going on in the system… so there really is no need for it.”
I support people having the right to pay for their fare in cash. Not everyone is in a position to have credit or debit cards. Public transportation is supposed to be for everyone.
I support people having the right to pay for their fare in cash. Not everyone is in a position to have credit or debit cards. Public transportation is supposed to be for everyone.
Those MTA machines take case and even coins IIRC.
Less cash means less worries for MTA and those token booth workers including being jacked and or even killed.
I agree. It's tough on some seniors who are uncomfortable using the machines to refill their reduced fare metro cards. Reduced fare omny isn't available yet. I asked the token booth clerks when will they be and they were like beats the heck out of me.
I've seen more people fare beating the last and this year than ever before. It don't matter, they wouldn't pay anyways. I saw same people being escorted off commuter trains for not paying the fares.
I've seen more cops by the turnstiles. Still see enough people fare beating when cops aren't around.
Been seeing people swiping and then opening the gate to let their buddies in even when token booth clerks are right there.
I've seen more people fare beating the last and this year than ever before. It don't matter, they wouldn't pay anyways. I saw same people being escorted off commuter trains for not paying the fares.
For decades now best token booth clerks can do about fare evasion is simply yell "pay your fare" through microphone that goes onto loudspeaker. That may give any NYPD at station a heads up, but otherwise is useless.
Going back to bad old days of 1970's if not before token booth agents were told to remain locked in unless something happened (such as eegit pouring gasoline into same). They only come out for certain legit purposes, and even then usually someone is running shotgun.
Going back to before WWII token booth clerks were routinely robbed and and or killed. In response to violence against them in 1970's by 1980's and certainly 1990's all old style token booths were replaced by new ones that are basically mini fortresses complete with very thick glass.
In my area most people use cash. Every time I take the train I see people at the window. Hope they just jump the turnstile now.
And they might as well just get rid of all token booths because if people can't go to the clerk to pay for a ride then why are they there
I agree. It's tough on some seniors who are uncomfortable using the machines to refill their reduced fare metro cards. Reduced fare omny isn't available yet. I asked the token booth clerks when will they be and they were like beats the heck out of me.
The machines have been out for over 20 years now, that's just refusal to learn
__________________
"The man who sleeps on the floor, can never fall out of bed." -Martin Lawrence
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
