NYC DU-ers...I have a question for you...

[dixiegrrrrl]

Several movies set in NYC show subway entrances, which have signs saying:

"Enter with or buy Metrocard
at all times.
See agent across the street"

Poor wording...
"buy Metro Card at all times"
what the heck does that mean?

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. That is a pass to open the turnstyles to get on the train.

You can buy them 24 hours a day.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Hey, "Sis"....

So the sign is saying "Do not enter with out a pass"?

The wording struck me as weird...as if walking into the subway area with out a pass was illegal or something.

In SF, BART has ticket dispensing machines and tickey agents IN the stations.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Not illegal, but you might have just wasted a trip downstairs

and back up.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Some entrances have no station agent.

So you have to have a metrocard or buy one at the machine.

Reason this is pointed out is at those entrances there are no turnstiles. They have the full height revolving ones (and the locked gates). So if you have any large packages, a bike, etc you won't be able to get in. Also there won't be anyone to let you through if you have a problem.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. ahhh..thank you.

[Happyhippychick]

3. It means you are able to buy metro cards at all times

They are dispensed from machines. With the old token system you could only buy them when their were employees in the booth so you couldn't get them "at all times".