I waited 20 minutes this morning at the old M60 SBS stop on Hoyt Ave just past 31st, right by the Astoria Blvd N/W entrance. Three M60s passed in the next lane—maybe with 'bus full' signs?—but I couldn't tell if they were supposed to stop. I saw no paper sign saying the stop moved. I ended up walking to Steinway and catching a Q101, so maybe I messed up? Is the eastbound SBS stop gone? I thought all SBS stops have big blue signs, but I didn't see one. Sorry if this is an obvious question.

Nah, you're not crazy. That stop shifted after the bike-lane crew redid the median. They left the old shelter, but the SBS pole isn't over there anymore—I want to say it's closer to 30th now? Last week I saw people camped at the old sign while an M60 blew by with an 'SBS receipts required' card in the window. If you're using MetroCard, you need the receipt from the kiosk at the new pole. Check the curb near the pizza place. Also the tracker sometimes still shows the old stop ID, which doesn't help.

Welcome—and yeah, this one is genuinely confusing because the old shelter is still lit up and people keep treating it as the stop. The eastbound M60-SBS stop did move a bit west, closer to the block between 30th and 31st, rather than the far side just after 31st. I missed it once the same way.

A few things that help:

• Ignore the old shelter. If you're standing there, the driver may not stop even if you wave. SBS operators are more likely to stick to the new flagged stop.
• Look for the blue SBS kiosk, not just a bus shelter. The machine is around 100-150 feet west of the old shelter, sometimes hidden by scaffolding or a delivery truck.
• Prepay before boarding. On M60 SBS, MetroCard users still need the paper receipt from the kiosk. If you use OMNY, tap the reader at the door; no receipt needed? I believe inspectors can check the card, so keep it handy.
• Check the new stop ID on the pole, not just the old saved stop in an app. Some third-party trackers were still pinned to the old location for a while.

The old shelter might still serve the Q101? That adds to the confusion, but for the M60 SBS I'd walk toward 30th and look for the blue kiosk. And go a little early—people notice the bus and sprint from the old shelter to the new stop, which is a mess across the bike lane.

Thanks astoria_arch. I walked back tonight after work. The old shelter was definitely still there, but I found the blue kiosk closer to 30th, hidden behind the pizza place's sidewalk board. The machine screen was blank though. Do the drivers let you board if the kiosk is dead and you have a MetroCard? I didn't test it because a bus came while I was still tapping the screen. Also Gowanus_G, what did you mean by 'SBS receipts required' in the window? Are they saying they won't stop if you don't have one? I usually take the N train, but today was a mess.

If the kiosk is blank, I just board and tell the operator. Half wave you on, half give the 'not my problem' shrug. They don't stop because of the receipt—if you're at the new pole, they stop. The receipt is for fare enforcement. If the machine's dead, you can still board, but an inspector could be a pain. I'd take a photo of the dead machine with the time and stop number. Not that it always helps. The old shelter thing is nasty work for people who don't ride it every day.

That blank-kiosk problem has happened to me at the old stop too, usually after rain or a cold snap. The official rule for SBS with MetroCard is that you need the receipt before boarding, but if the machine is down, most drivers expect you to board anyway. The problem is a fare inspector might still issue something based on lack of proof—so photo evidence of the dead machine with the stop ID is a good idea. Which is annoying.

For OMNY, you don't need a paper receipt. You tap the reader at any door, and inspectors can verify using your card or device. If you're planning to stay on MetroCard, though, always carry a backup plan for the receipt.

Also, I should have mentioned: sometimes only one screen on the kiosk is dead, so try both sides before giving up. And the stop name in the system may have changed too—maybe 'Hoyt Ave/30 St' or similar? I'd reset the app based on your current location rather than the old 'Astoria Blvd' stop name. The old shelter staying up is the worst part. If you are at the old spot and you see an M60 coming, don't sprint through the bike lane; it's better to miss one than deal with a bike or a summons.

Okay, that makes much more sense now. I'm still on MetroCard until next month. I took a photo of the blank machine, boarded at the back door, and nobody checked. But I'll probably switch to OMNY after what you both said. I also saw a guy at the old shelter throw his hands up as the M60 passed. Felt bad. Next time I'll go straight to the blue kiosk and not camp by the old shelter. Thanks both.