Davis T station has been Charlie converted

[ron_newman]

As of this morning, the Davis T station has been converted to Charlie gates.

Comments

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

At least at most subway station entrances there are multiple gates--but it is enough of a delay to be annoying. I also thought it was better when your card never left your hand. But, where there's a real slowdown is getting on the buses (even when everyone knows what to do with their card and does it).

[ron_newman]

Next month we're supposed to start getting CharlieCards (as opposed to the current CharlieTickets), which indeed never leave your hand -- you just tap it against the gate or farebox.

I like the idea, but the T is now racing against time to get these things distributed, and all stations converted, before the fare hike takes place. They should slow down and do things one step at a time.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Ah, that explains it! I was reading info about the new fares on the MBTA site recently, and though both CharlieCards and CharlieTickets were mentioned, I couldn't find anything explaining what the difference was.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Okay, it explains part of the difference. I've only been able to guess at how they are otherwise differently used.

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

I did some research into the differences yesterday:

-Charlie Cards use an RFID chip that just requires proximity. This gets through the new turnstiles faster, but doesn't work in the old turnstiles at all (which is why they can't sell them yet).

-Charlie Cards will have a unique serial number. If you choose to associate that serial number with your identity, you will have a broader range of options for recharging them. (eg credit card over the phone.) Of course, it will also mean that The System will be able to track your movements.

-Charlie Cards can store both a pass and stored value at the same time; CharlieTickets can only do one or the other. Both at once may be desirable for those who travel on Charlie-enabled parts of the system outside the scope of their pass.

-Charlie Cards or (CharlieTickets with a pass on them) will be required to get the new fare. People who pay in cash or use stored-value will pay a ~20% surcharge on top of the new fare.

Hopefully it will be difficult to break the machines by putting a CharlieCard into the ticket reader.

[elements.livejournal.com]

Ohhh. That explains so so so much. I am now a lot less annoyed by all this, because in its way it's actually a sly promotion of making people want to get the CharlieCard, rather than simple idiocy. Everyone who's been pissed off by long bus lines and delays will want to move to the Card asap.

Wonder why this was not in the big FAQ on the new cards and fares that my employer sent out (we have a subsidized pass program and they needed to tell us about the fares stuff).

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

Do you know what happens to tickets with stored value once the fare increases? These things don't expire for a year, but (as far as I know) you can't add value to them, so if I have a card with $1.25 left on it when the fare increases, do I just have to throw away the $1.25 and buy a new card?

[ron_newman]

Why can't you add value to them?