01/21/13 Text of Message sent to NYC MTA Customer Service
On the M34 crosstown bus, yesterday afternoon (Sunday 01/20/13) I overheard the gentleman next to me on his cell phone telling a friend this story.
"I tried to catch the M34 crosstown bus at 10th Ave. but the bus made the light and I didn't so I had to wait 15 minutes for the next one. When I got on, I was told by the driver that I had to pay outside using my Metrocard in the machines by the bus stop. I went out to pay and by the time I got my receipt out of the machine, he closed the doors and took off. Had to wait another 15 minutes for the next bus."
One thought for the MTA. The sides of the fare collection machines when approached from the cross street are signed in large Spanish letters. When you approach from mid block, they are signed in large English letters. I would venture a guess that many more people approach from the cross street rather than from mid-bock, especially people who are transferring from another bus line. Those folks must also use their Metrocards at those machines and obtain a proof-of-payment receipt. Why can't the fare collection machines be signed in both English and Spanish on both sides so that those unfamiliar with Select Bus Service (SBS) payment procedures are not caught by surprise. Maybe the MTA should ask their SBS drivers how many times per day they have to send people off the bus to pay, especially on SBS lines that run through heavily touristed areas like 34th Street.
Lester W. Wolff, Director
New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers
lwjm@optonline.net
