The PATH of frustration
As part of my commute to Bank Street from JC I take two trains: the NJ PATH and the NYC subway. Both systems offer unlimited-ride monthly metro cards, which are separate cards as they are operated by different entities. The PATH monthly pass is loaded on a plastic card called Smartlink. However, it is possible to put money on the NYC metro card and use it like a debit card; if you load it in increments of $10 there is a bonus.
Until now I've been getting to the city by loading up my metro card, but today is the first day of classes and from now on I'll be using the PATH regularly. So, this morning I got up early to walk to the Exchange Place PATH station, because I needed to get the Smartlink card, which is not sold at the Grove PATH station near my apartment. Apparently the Smartlink card is more special than the plastic card dispensed by the NYC subway; it requires a $5 deposit and you can reload it online.
Anyway, when I got Exchange Place, the options at the ticket machine did not include the purchase of a new Smartlink card. I asked someone how I could get one for the first time, and he pointed out a separate machine inside the ticket gates. Which means that in order to get a Smartlink card you must first buy at least a single-ride ticket.
Then when I tried to purchased said ticket, the machine refused my debit and credit card for no reason, and when I tried to pay by cash I noticed that the machine only gave change up to $7.00 (probably in coins). I had a twenty-dollar bill.
After fiddling around at the machine for a couple minutes with a line forming behind me, I gave up and used the other machine, got my ticket quickly, and headed through the gates to the Smartlink dispenser. It turns out that from that machine you can only buy a Smartlink with $18 on it (the monthly pass is $54) and it only accepts cash, and it gives change in $1 coins. Well, I had the $20 bill, no problem there - but seriously, you have to get through $18 worth of rides before you can buy a monthly pass? What kind of scam are you running, New Jersey?
Until now I've been getting to the city by loading up my metro card, but today is the first day of classes and from now on I'll be using the PATH regularly. So, this morning I got up early to walk to the Exchange Place PATH station, because I needed to get the Smartlink card, which is not sold at the Grove PATH station near my apartment. Apparently the Smartlink card is more special than the plastic card dispensed by the NYC subway; it requires a $5 deposit and you can reload it online.
Anyway, when I got Exchange Place, the options at the ticket machine did not include the purchase of a new Smartlink card. I asked someone how I could get one for the first time, and he pointed out a separate machine inside the ticket gates. Which means that in order to get a Smartlink card you must first buy at least a single-ride ticket.
Then when I tried to purchased said ticket, the machine refused my debit and credit card for no reason, and when I tried to pay by cash I noticed that the machine only gave change up to $7.00 (probably in coins). I had a twenty-dollar bill.
After fiddling around at the machine for a couple minutes with a line forming behind me, I gave up and used the other machine, got my ticket quickly, and headed through the gates to the Smartlink dispenser. It turns out that from that machine you can only buy a Smartlink with $18 on it (the monthly pass is $54) and it only accepts cash, and it gives change in $1 coins. Well, I had the $20 bill, no problem there - but seriously, you have to get through $18 worth of rides before you can buy a monthly pass? What kind of scam are you running, New Jersey?