MBTA Charlie Card - Multiple Users Through Gate?

[Tom]

When a Charlie Card has a declining balance on it (i.e. not a
monthly/daily/etc. pass with unlimited rides), can multiple users use
the same card? In other words if I put $10 on my Card, can a friend and
I both use that Card to enter the station at the same time? I will be
having an out of town guest and wondering if I need to get another Card
for him to avoid the Ticket surcharge.

Thanks.

[andrew m. boardman]

Post by Tom
When a Charlie Card has a declining balance on it (i.e. not a
monthly/daily/etc. pass with unlimited rides), can multiple users use
the same card?

Yes, but you'll lose out on transfers. (I've heard conflicting reports
about whether they can hold one or two, so it might work out, but
certainly not more.)

[Ron Newman]

Post by Tom
When a Charlie Card has a declining balance on it (i.e. not a
monthly/daily/etc. pass with unlimited rides), can multiple users use
the same card?

Yes, but if you're both transferring to a bus afterwards, only one of
you will get a free transfer; the other will have to pay full fare.

[D. Kirkpatrick]

Post by Tom
When a Charlie Card has a declining balance on it (i.e. not a
monthly/daily/etc. pass with unlimited rides), can multiple users use
the same card? In other words if I put $10 on my Card, can a friend and
I both use that Card to enter the station at the same time? I will be
having an out of town guest and wondering if I need to get another Card
for him to avoid the Ticket surcharge.
Thanks.

It has been my understanding from message sin thisgroup that when
entering a subway station the Charlie Card is times to allow only one
person every 20 minutes. In other words, if you go through, that same
card will be disabled for about 20 minutes before it can be used again
at the same station.

You would be better off getting a second card for your guest ane
charging it with a few bucks for the necessary travel.

You can always use any left over cash yourself or place the card aside
as a spare in the event you loose your regular card.

[Nathan J. Williams]

Post by D. Kirkpatrick
It has been my understanding from message sin thisgroup that when
entering a subway station the Charlie Card is times to allow only one
person every 20 minutes. In other words, if you go through, that same
card will be disabled for about 20 minutes before it can be used again
at the same station.

This is only true for the monthly pass aspect of the cards. A card
with a balance on it can be used repeatedly with no delay. In the
subway, each additional tap on the reader will increase a count of the
number of people who can go through, which is shown on the display.

- Nathan

[toffner]

Post by Nathan J. Williams
This is only true for the monthly pass aspect of the cards. A card
with a balance on it can be used repeatedly with no delay. In the
subway, each additional tap on the reader will increase a count of the
number of people who can go through, which is shown on the display.
- Nathan

Yup, there is a limit to how many transfers will be stored with it
though--- i forget the exact number.

[A***@hotmail.com]

Post by Nathan J. Williams

Post by D. Kirkpatrick
It has been my understanding from message sin thisgroup that when
entering a subway station the Charlie Card is times to allow only one
person every 20 minutes.

This is only true for the monthly pass aspect of the cards. A card
with a balance on it can be used repeatedly with no delay.

Also, if you have a CharlieCard that has both a pass and money on it,
if you use it more than once within 20 minutes at the same subway
station, it deducts money from the second and subsequent taps.

What we still don't know is how the 20-minute lockout works on buses.
Does it apply to any bus on the same route? On the same route and in
the same direction? Or on the same physical bus even if it changed
direction or route?

Why do bus drivers sometimes start punching numbers into the farebox
in the middle of the route when passengers haven't boarded recently?

Does using a pass in a different station reset the lockout? For
example, if I swipe at Park Street, then Boylston, then Park Street
again all within 20 minutes, will I get locked out at the third swipe?

-Apr

[Ron Newman]

Post by A***@hotmail.com
Why do bus drivers sometimes start punching numbers into the farebox
in the middle of the route when passengers haven't boarded recently?

If it is an Express Bus, the driver may be doing this at the boundary
between the local and express parts of the route, since they charge
different fares.

[Ron Newman]

Post by D. Kirkpatrick
It has been my understanding from message sin thisgroup that when
entering a subway station the Charlie Card is times to allow only one
person every 20 minutes. In other words, if you go through, that same
card will be disabled for about 20 minutes before it can be used again
at the same station.

This is true for monthly passes, but not for ordinary stored-value
cards. Using it multiple times just deducts multiple fares; it doesn't
matter how frequently you use it.

Stored-value STUDENT CharlieCards DO have a 20-minute lockout, according
to a T employee I know fairly well.