That time in Chicago I tried to pay with exact change and held up the whole bus line

So I was on the CTA bus last winter and wanted to prove a point that cash is still fine for transit. Big mistake. I had all these quarters and dimes ready but the fare box kept spitting them back. Driver was staring at me. People behind me were sighing loud. After like 5 minutes of dropping coins one at a time I just gave up and used my card. Now I never bother with cash on public transit. Anyone else stubbornly try to make the old way work and just embarrass yourself?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_stella25d ago

Honestly that exact change thing is a trap. I did the same thing in New York on the MTA, thinking I was being clever with my handful of nickels. The machine just rejected every single one and the bus driver looked at me like I was personally wasting his time. I felt my face get hot while everyone behind me stared at their phones pretending not to notice. Now I just tap my card like everyone else and save the coins for parking meters.

the_wyatt25d ago

Coins on public transit are a fool's errand. Learned that one the hard way myself years ago. Tap and go is just smarter, saves the embarrassment every time.