How and when do I pay the fare on a local bus?

There are two types of payment systems used on local buses—pay-as-you-enter and pay-as-you-exit. With the pay-as-you-enter system, passengers board through the front door and pay by inserting money into the fare box next to the driver’s seat or by using the transportation card reader. With the pay-as-you-exit system, most of the time passengers board through the rear door. When boarding, pull a number ticket or use the transportation card reader. You then pay the fare next to the driver when you get off the bus from the front door. The monitor at the front of the bus will list the fare for each number on a numbered ticket and you pay the fare using the fare box or card reader. Some buses will have you board through the front door and pay when exiting. Some bus systems do not accept transportation cards, so it is advisable to check before boarding.