Hey, just moved to Stuy Town and I’m taking the M15 up 1st/2nd to Midtown for work, usually only about 10 or 12 blocks. I assumed the SBS would always be faster, but half the time I’m standing at the kiosk trying to get the receipt while a local pulls away. Then I end up on the local anyway. For a short hop, is the SBS really saving anything? Also, do fare inspectors actually check receipts at rush hour? I don’t want to mess up the off-board payment on my second week here.

Nah, for that distance just take the first bus that opens its doors. SBS is built for the long run from South Ferry to 125th. You’re burning any time advantage at the kiosk. If you’re on OMNY or unlimited it’s even less of a decision—local is fine. The only time I bother with SBS is if I’m already at the stop and it’s right there with people boarding, or I’m going far enough that the local’s every-block stop pattern will make me crazy. Otherwise, don’t overthink it.

Wait, I’m still confused—if you have a receipt from the SBS kiosk, can you just walk on through the back doors, or do you have to show the driver? I saw people hop on the back without doing anything and I thought they were fare-beating. I took it once from LES to Midtown and an inspector got on around 23rd. I had my receipt crumpled in my bag and he barely looked at it. Do they scan the receipt or just wave people through? I was way too nervous for a Monday morning.

For short trips I don't even bother with the SBS. Half the time the kiosk is slow or the receipt machine won't read my card, and the local is already at the light. If an SBS is already sitting there with doors open, I'll grab it—especially if I already have a slip from earlier—but I'm not waiting for one. The receipt is proof of payment, not a ticket with a barcode they scan. The inspectors just check that you have one that hasn't expired. Don't sweat it if it's valid.

Thanks, this makes me feel less ridiculous. I tried this morning and just took the local when it came first. Tapped OMNY, got a seat, and we rolled past an SBS that was stuck at 14th. So I think I'm converted. One more question though: if I buy an SBS receipt at the kiosk and then the local comes first, can I use that receipt later on the SBS? Or is it dead once I board something else? I accidentally did that yesterday and then tapped the local anyway because I thought I'd get in trouble.

Don't tap the local if you already paid at the SBS kiosk—unless you want to donate another fare. The SBS receipt is proof for that SBS route, not a transfer to the local. If you buy it and then bail to the local, yeah you basically ate that fare. The receipt should work on the SBS later within its time window, but not on the local. For a ten-block trip, just tap OMNY on whatever pulls up first and stop buying paper receipts. You're overpaying for no reason.

This thread is exactly what I needed. I moved to the city from Trenton area and the off-board thing still feels backwards. Back there you just pay the driver and sit down. If I have an unlimited MetroCard, do I still need to go to the kiosk before an SBS? I saw someone wave their phone at the curb and then just walk on through the back. How does the inspector know the phone person actually paid? Sorry if that's a dumb question.

If you’re on OMNY you can tap at the door reader on the SBS, I think—no paper slip. I’m still a MetroCard guy, so I get the receipt at the kiosk when I use the SBS, which is almost never these days. Unlimited card at the kiosk won’t charge you extra, it just gives you the proof. But for a 10-block hop, don't join the kiosk line; just take the local and tap. The inspector can check OMNY by verifying that you tapped recently, so the phone people are usually fine if they actually paid.

Okay so if I have an unlimited MetroCard, the kiosk gives me the receipt without charging? I think I've been paying double like a chump. Last month I got the SBS receipt, then also tapped on a local bus because I didn't want to look like I was skipping the fare. Do inspectors actually ride often? I've done the M15 SBS maybe five times now and never saw one. Maybe they only check downtown in the afternoon?

Correct, unlimited card at the SBS kiosk is just for proof of payment, no extra fare. Don't pay twice. The inspectors are random—they work in groups and hit a whole bus, can be anywhere between tip and 125th. They don't care whether you look new or confused, no proof means a ticket. But if you have unlimited, just get a slip at the kiosk and keep it. Sometimes I reuse the same slip until it expires or I lose it. For a short hop local is the move, but if you do ride SBS, have the slip out.

EastHarlem_E, that's a relief. I thought the kiosk was cheating me when my unlimited came back out without a charge. This morning I used yesterday's receipt on the SBS and the inspector just glanced at it and moved on. I think I'm finally getting the rhythm. New question for the weekend shift I picked up: does the M15 local actually run more often than the SBS on Saturdays? My coworker said something about the SBS gap being worse off-peak.

On weekends the spacing gets weird. I've had two locals pass before one SBS showed up. For a Saturday shift, just take whatever comes first and stop checking which flavor it is unless one is right there with doors open. If you already have a slip or OMNY, you can hop either. The local bunches too, so sometimes the bus right behind the one you miss is emptier.

Thanks, everyone. I did my first OMNY tap on the M15 SBS door today and no one yelled at me, so I guess that’s allowed. Only weird part: the reader was at the back door and I walked past the front out of habit, then had to double back while the driver watched. New Jersey bus habits die hard. This thread saved me from another double payment at least.