What an archaic and convoluted system compared to here in Japan. I left Boston when we were still paying 85 cents for a token. It’s very nice of you to help those who may find this ticket system confusing.
Okay, I admit it! I got the acronym wrong! MBTA actually stands for "Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority." Everything else should be pretty accurate, though. Prices have gone up slightly as of July 2019, though; a monthly bus and subway link pass is now $90, not $85 as it was when the video was made, for example.
As of August 2024, a new fare payment system has been implemented on subways, buses and trolleys. In addition to paying with your charlie card, you can also tap your credit card, or a phone with a digital wallet on the new screens by the fare gate/box. Just make sure to tap your phone/credit card on the screen and your charlie card on the circle. Enjoy the T.
Good luck! And please remember this video is 5 years old; I no longer live in Boston and they might have changed a lot. Check out mbta.com for more up to date information.
This helps a ton for someone whose never had to deal with subways or busses or any public transportation other than taxis. The only information I was left wondering is about transfers from subway to buses. I read that if your take the subway then your transfer is included. How does the bus driver know you’re taking a included transfer? And also, if you pay for a round trip, how does that work? (With regards to amount of time to use round trip ticket, and how the machine/bus driver know you’ve paid for round trip)
It used to be a slip of paper, but these days with it all electronic on the Charlie Cards, it tracks it automatically, if you go through the turnstiles to board a train at that station within a certain number of minutes after getting off the bus you get the transfer credit. I'm afraid I don't know further details.
thank you ! great video, all the info i needed! though i had to crank up the volume to hear but Great video!!!! I'm from Buffalo and i have never ridden on a subway before. Just moved here & HAD 100s of questions which you answered.
I'm going to Anime Boston 2022 at the Hynes Convention Center at the end of May. My hotel is near there. So, looking at Jet Set Calvin's video on how to get to downtown Boston from Logan Airport, I think I can get from the airport to the Blue Line station....but if I'm reading the map right, I need to ride it to Government Center then switch to the Green Line to actually reach Hynes Convention Center....is that correct? Also, as I'll be in Boston for four nights, a 7-day pass on a Charlie Card might be a good option, yeah?
@@robertcruikshank4501 Hi there! I'm also going to anime boston this year and have a question; So i am taking the red line south station to park street and then supposed to transfer to the green E line to Prudential. Is there any fees for transfering to a different train line and also how do you go about finding the green E line once getting off the red line train? Any info would be greatly appreciated
this video was really helpful! i’m curious, how does going through the gate when you’re using a ticket (not a charlie card) work? it says remove ticket to enter, does the ticket get redispensed through a slot at the top of the machine?
If you were wanting to do the Boston T subway challenge (visiting all the stations in one day, bearing in mind you will be wanting to use buses as well) would the weekly pass be sufficient
This is probably very obvious and I'm just not thinking of the right answer. What happens if you ride one of those "Pay to get off" trains or buses and then don't have the wherewithal to pay when it's time to get off?
My information is years out of date and I never did it personally, but I expect they'd lecture them and let them go. Worth noting that you do have to pay to board on the way *back* and a driver likely wouldn't let someone back on who hadn't paid before. Probably keeps violations way down.
And I wish someone would tell me how this is better than simply walking up to a collector's booth giving him a buck & a quarter & saying two tokens please. Also folks, please read the signage in the stations and don't try to move huge objects on the train, trolleys & buses during rush hour!
I am planning/hoping to take a vacation in Boston this September for 5-7 days. It seems that a 7 day Charlie card is a screaming deal for getting around. Does that get me unlimited use of the subway and buses for 7 days? Also (I know this is a bit off-topic, but it is relevant to a visitor who's walking): does GPS work reliably in Boston? My plan is to use Google Maps to navigate as I'm walking around.
I believe so, but you can double check on their website mbta.com GPS works just fine around here. It probably just pings the 3 closest Dunkin' Donuts' to fix your location but it works :)
@@robertcruikshank4501 Thanks Robert! I did in fact confirm on the mbta website that a Charlie Card now costs $22.50, is good for "Unlimited travel for 7 days", and is good on the Subway, local bus and Silver Line.
That's way too confusing to operate the vending machine. No wonder there are lines of people standing behind you. Those machines take too long to accomplish the task, and double that for an out-of-towner. Please bring back the tokens. Tokens are a much simpler way, easier to buy & use. Tokens have to be much cheaper to make & distribute than the transit company paying the price of buying all those stupid vending machines. For us out-of-towners, these subway fares should be available at all Boston hotels so we don't have to hunt down a place that sells these fare cards, especially when we don't know where to look for them
As of August 2024, the fare system has been expanded significantly. The machines now dispense the cards, and if you have Apple Pay an alike mobile wallet or a tappable credit card, just tap and go on the big square readers. So no need for the machines any longer
I read that kids 11 and under are free with an adult. I have 2 kids, am I supposed to have them walk through the entry gate squished against me at once?
@@robertcruikshank4501 Thank you. I was just in Boston 2 days ago. I didn't realize the futher away we are from the downtown area, that its above ground and I don't go through a gate. I just walked on and scanned at the front of the car. The Express bus threw me for a loop when I was heading to the airport. When I was at the 7-eleven and received a 7day Charlie Card instead of a 7day Charlie ticket, I kept my receipt to ask at the ferry if they would still accept it because I couldn't exchange it. They let us on the ferry since we had our receipt. Super nice and easy experience with the T since watching your video. Thank you.
What an archaic and convoluted system compared to here in Japan. I left Boston when we were still paying 85 cents for a token. It’s very nice of you to help those who may find this ticket system confusing.
Thanks so much for the help! It is very informative, and I'm feeling less anxious about traveling around Boston now.
Screw the T baby, I’ll drive you wherever you want 😎
All very solid advice here. It should be mandatory to watch this before buying a Charlie Card. Thanks!
Okay, I admit it! I got the acronym wrong! MBTA actually stands for "Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority." Everything else should be pretty accurate, though. Prices have gone up slightly as of July 2019, though; a monthly bus and subway link pass is now $90, not $85 as it was when the video was made, for example.
My Bus Transports A-holes!
It's okay, I live here and I thought it was Metropolitan Boston. It just makes sense.
Thanks Richard. As a new Bostonian this was so helpful! Saw your ad in the Starbucks in Davis Square
As of August 2024, a new fare payment system has been implemented on subways, buses and trolleys. In addition to paying with your charlie card, you can also tap your credit card, or a phone with a digital wallet on the new screens by the fare gate/box. Just make sure to tap your phone/credit card on the screen and your charlie card on the circle. Enjoy the T.
Thank you! The step by step information is exactly what I’m looking for as I prepare for my first visit to Boston.
Good luck! And please remember this video is 5 years old; I no longer live in Boston and they might have changed a lot. Check out mbta.com for more up to date information.
This helps a ton for someone whose never had to deal with subways or busses or any public transportation other than taxis. The only information I was left wondering is about transfers from subway to buses. I read that if your take the subway then your transfer is included. How does the bus driver know you’re taking a included transfer? And also, if you pay for a round trip, how does that work? (With regards to amount of time to use round trip ticket, and how the machine/bus driver know you’ve paid for round trip)
It used to be a slip of paper, but these days with it all electronic on the Charlie Cards, it tracks it automatically, if you go through the turnstiles to board a train at that station within a certain number of minutes after getting off the bus you get the transfer credit. I'm afraid I don't know further details.
thank you ! great video, all the info i needed! though i had to crank up the volume to hear but Great video!!!! I'm from Buffalo and i have never ridden on a subway before. Just moved here & HAD 100s of questions which you answered.
Glad it was helpful! And thanks for the feedback, I'm still learning how to make videos!
Would be great to have heard an explanation about inbound and outbound, but great video. Maybe time for an update with better audio? Excellent video!
I actually learned something from this one!
Thanks a lot, very informative and helpful clip, and also It's been meticulously explained. Now I can take a bus with comfort of mind.
I'm glad it helped. Unfortunately I'm no longer in Boston and so can't update it.
Very informative! Thank you!!
You might wanna create a new video of this because they added new fare machines through half of the stations already.
I hope someone does that, but I don't live in Massachusetts anymore.
@@robertcruikshank4501 Ah, i plan to do so, but the Orange lije is currently shutdown.
I'm going to Anime Boston 2022 at the Hynes Convention Center at the end of May. My hotel is near there. So, looking at Jet Set Calvin's video on how to get to downtown Boston from Logan Airport, I think I can get from the airport to the Blue Line station....but if I'm reading the map right, I need to ride it to Government Center then switch to the Green Line to actually reach Hynes Convention Center....is that correct? Also, as I'll be in Boston for four nights, a 7-day pass on a Charlie Card might be a good option, yeah?
You're right, blue line inbound to Government Center, then you need an E branch train of the Green Line Westbound. Have fun!
@@robertcruikshank4501 Hi there! I'm also going to anime boston this year and have a question; So i am taking the red line south station to park street and then supposed to transfer to the green E line to Prudential. Is there any fees for transfering to a different train line and also how do you go about finding the green E line once getting off the red line train? Any info would be greatly appreciated
Amazing! Thanks a bunch for that!
You're welcome! It's getting out of date, but I don't live in Boston any more! So check the latest on mbta.com
thank you that was helpful
this video was really helpful! i’m curious, how does going through the gate when you’re using a ticket (not a charlie card) work? it says remove ticket to enter, does the ticket get redispensed through a slot at the top of the machine?
It comes back out in the same place.
Robert Cruikshank thanks!
Thanks for the information 👍
You're welcome!
Thank you good sir. You are awesome.
If you were wanting to do the Boston T subway challenge (visiting all the stations in one day, bearing in mind you will be wanting to use buses as well) would the weekly pass be sufficient
Yes. It takes 7 hours to run through every station on every line!
Very good information. As a traveler to Boston soon this will help a lot.
This is probably very obvious and I'm just not thinking of the right answer. What happens if you ride one of those "Pay to get off" trains or buses and then don't have the wherewithal to pay when it's time to get off?
My information is years out of date and I never did it personally, but I expect they'd lecture them and let them go. Worth noting that you do have to pay to board on the way *back* and a driver likely wouldn't let someone back on who hadn't paid before. Probably keeps violations way down.
Funny and helpful!!!
Are there any annual passes for Charlie Card for students ?
There are. I know students get reduced fares. Universities should give them out. If they don’t just pay the full fare
And I wish someone would tell me how this is better than simply walking up to a collector's booth giving him a buck & a quarter & saying two tokens please. Also folks, please read the signage in the stations and don't try to move huge objects on the train, trolleys & buses during rush hour!
I am planning/hoping to take a vacation in Boston this September for 5-7 days. It seems that a 7 day Charlie card is a screaming deal for getting around. Does that get me unlimited use of the subway and buses for 7 days? Also (I know this is a bit off-topic, but it is relevant to a visitor who's walking): does GPS work reliably in Boston? My plan is to use Google Maps to navigate as I'm walking around.
I believe so, but you can double check on their website mbta.com GPS works just fine around here. It probably just pings the 3 closest Dunkin' Donuts' to fix your location but it works :)
@@robertcruikshank4501 Thanks Robert! I did in fact confirm on the mbta website that a Charlie Card now costs $22.50, is good for "Unlimited travel for 7 days", and is good on the Subway, local bus and Silver Line.
Thank you ❤
I take it you can’t just walk up to the train and flash a military ID and ride for free anymore?
No idea. I guess not if the station is totally unmanned...my information is 5 years out of date though.
@@robertcruikshank4501 just curious. I was stationed there from 1996-2003, during the Big Dig
Thanks It helps a lot
The MBTA actually stands for something else other than what you said
*Massachusetts*
*Bay*
Transit
Authority
Not metro boston
Hi Joe, yes, that has been pointed out to me. My bad. I hunted down so many details and I didn't double check that I knew what the acronym stood for!
@@robertcruikshank4501 It's called Massachusetts Bay because it serves something like 50 cities and towns in the Boston area.
Great video
Thanks!
That's way too confusing to operate the vending machine. No wonder there are lines of people standing behind you. Those machines take too long to accomplish the task, and double that for an out-of-towner. Please bring back the tokens. Tokens are a much simpler way, easier to buy & use. Tokens have to be much cheaper to make & distribute than the transit company paying the price of buying all those stupid vending machines. For us out-of-towners, these subway fares should be available at all Boston hotels so we don't have to hunt down a place that sells these fare cards, especially when we don't know where to look for them
As of August 2024, the fare system has been expanded significantly. The machines now dispense the cards, and if you have Apple Pay an alike mobile wallet or a tappable credit card, just tap and go on the big square readers. So no need for the machines any longer
I read that kids 11 and under are free with an adult. I have 2 kids, am I supposed to have them walk through the entry gate squished against me at once?
I asked a T official and they said yes, basically.
@@robertcruikshank4501 Thank you. I was just in Boston 2 days ago. I didn't realize the futher away we are from the downtown area, that its above ground and I don't go through a gate. I just walked on and scanned at the front of the car. The Express bus threw me for a loop when I was heading to the airport. When I was at the 7-eleven and received a 7day Charlie Card instead of a 7day Charlie ticket, I kept my receipt to ask at the ferry if they would still accept it because I couldn't exchange it. They let us on the ferry since we had our receipt. Super nice and easy experience with the T since watching your video. Thank you.
Great video...
Mis labelED
ADD
4 beantown's new college students!
Great idea! Thanks!
You didn't show how to buy a day or weekly pass. The menus on the computer only show single or two way ticket option
Sorry about that, there are too many details to cover everything. Perhaps someone will make an updated version; I no longer live in Boston.
If you have a CharlieCard, it should have the option of choosing as such.
Can you use the Charlie card on your phone?
I'm afraid I don't know that one. You might try www.mbta.com
Nice Video
Thanks
Thank you
Great.
That attitude stuff doesn’t fly in New York City and I don’t think a lot of people will listen to that in Boston.
I won the MBTA job lottery bus 🚌 drivers.
I beg your pardon? You forgot the verb.
I won the MBTA job lottery bus driver lottery. My big break in life.
Do not trust him
He does not even know what mbta stands for.
@@ralphaugustin2830 Hey, you're right! I'll have to make another version and fix that. Thanks.