Was heading west on the M34 SBS from Javits yesterday around 4. The bus pulls up, all three doors open, and half the stop just pretends the middle and rear doors don't exist. They crowd the front like MTA is handing out free transfers up there. Driver had to yell "use all doors" twice. Someone with a rolling suitcase tried to board through the crowd with a receipt in his teeth. It's all-door boarding. The kiosk is right there. Why do we do this? Is it convention people, or are locals just as bad?

Okay so I actually don't get this either. I moved to Chelsea a few months ago and tried the M34 from Penn and I thought SBS means you have to board at the front to show the receipt? Because on the M15 the driver always looks at you? Wait is the M34 actually all-door? If so I've been lining up like an idiot. I saw the machines but I thought they just sold the tickets and you still boarded front. So I can walk in the back?

@metro_area_matt no, for the SBS you pay at the kiosk first and get the receipt. You can board at any door. The M34 has all-door boarding, same as the 14th Street bus. But old habits and all. At Javits it's a mess because you get out-of-towners with luggage and convention badges who haven't read the big signs. I just walk to the rear door and stick my arm in when the light comes on. If the driver doesn't open it, I knock on the glass.

@metro_area_matt yeah, what MorrisPark_M said. You only need to show the receipt if fare enforcement gets on. The driver is not checking. I see locals do the front-door huddle too, especially at 34th and 7th. I think it's because we were raised to board front and exit back. But SBS broke that and half the city didn't get the memo.

Okay I just tried boarding the M34 at 9th Ave through the rear door with my receipt in my phone case. The rear door didn't open at first, and some guy with a hand truck gave me a look like I was cutting a line that didn't exist. I knocked and the driver let out a big sigh over the speaker and popped it open. So it works? I think. I also saw a fare inspector at 14th St later, so I'm glad I had the receipt. Thanks for the tip.

@metro_area_matt yeah the rear door sometimes only opens if the driver sees you. At Javits in the afternoon, the operator is probably already done with the front-door block party and will open anything if you look like you're not going to hold the bus. Keep the receipt. I've seen inspectors at 34th and 8th. They don't care if you're new, they'll write you a citation.

The real problem is the Javits stop has zero crowd control. You got people waiting for the M34, M34A, and the random event shuttle. The sign says all-door, the painted marks on the sidewalk say stand here, and people still pile up by the front tires. I've started standing at the far end of the stop and just letting the doors come to me. Works until a UPS guy parks in the bus stop.

Day 3 of all-door boarding and now I realize I've been giving myself extra stress for months. Walked right into the middle door today and it felt illegal but also like I joined a secret club. Some older guy told me "back in my day you didn't do that." I just said "SBS, man." Not sure that was the right response. Anyway thanks Woodhaven_W and MorrisPark_M. This thread should be pinned at the Javits stop.