Credit Cards Only!
This weekend I was traveling around Boston on the T (Boston’s subway). The MBTA is installing new ticket gates at the underground Green Line stations. Basically this means that instead of buying your token from a guy behind the window you now buy a ticket from a machine. The tickets are then inserted into the gates to let you pass (very similar to London’s Underground system – for those who know that system).
So, I walk down the stairs into the station with my smallest bill being $10. No problem – the guy behind the window can make change. Uh oh – there is no guy – only machines. Ok, the machines take bills – no problem. Well, there was a problem – the machines don’t make change for bills. I had to buy a ticket with $10 of money on it. I only wanted a $1.25 one-trip ticket! But wait – the machine takes credit cards! Yes! I inserted my credit card and charged my one-way T ticket for $1.25.
It is very surreal going from Bulgaria where no one takes credit cards to Boston where you can’t even buy a $1.25 ticket without a credit card!
I think the T machines do give change for bills, but the change will come in dollar coins.
AHhh, good to know. Obviously my statistical sample of one was not enough. Do the machines give the Susan B Anthonys or the Sacajaweas (yes, I know I probably spelled it wrong)? I notived at Riverside the booth guy gives a mix and match of the two.
I’m not back in the habit of charging everything yet; in fact, I haven’t charged anything since I returned, but I am enjoying using my checkbook again!
History of one dollar coins in the US:
1979 Susan B. Anthony…flop
2000 Sacagawea…flop
2007 new presidential dollar coins…????
Haha, and you made a spelling mistake with noticed (see notived)