In Boston, ride with Charlie at your peril Boston has the oldest subway system in the nation. Paul Revere may have taken the Green Line on one stage of his ride. But the transportation authority is trying to move into the 21st century. This week, they introduced “CharlieTickets” on the midtown line I ride almost every day. Charlie, of course, is the hapless straphanger immortalized in a ditty four decades ago by the Kingston Trio. The lyrics begin: “Let me tell you the story of a man named Charlie. On a tragic and fateful day, he put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family, went to ride on the MTA.” But Charlie’s journey goes awry: “Did he ever return? No, he never returned. And his fate is still unlearned. He may ride forever ’neath the streets of Boston. He’s the man who never returned.” Always quick to embrace and celebrate failure (see Red Sox, 1919-2003), Boston’s subway honchos have dubbed 2006 “The Year of Charlie.” They’ve even emblazoned his visage on the new high-tech tickets. It’s a disturbing image: half a face, no nose. He’s hanging precariously out a subway-car window (which must be illegal; it’s certainly unsafe), holding out his ticket in an attitude of anguish and despair. Even allowing for artistic license, the concept is flawed. The guy got lost and is doomed to ride around forever. He is NOT a satisfied customer. The Web site promises that with a CharlieTicket, “you’ll be good to go!” Fare enough. But what a long, strange trip it will be. —Posted by David Gianatasio

June 29, 2006 | Permalink

Comments

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Before they introduced this odd homage to futility, the T had a contest where people could submit names for the new automated service. I entered "Instant T" which seemed to be both attribute-oriented and a nod to Boston's tea party heritage. I got a short email back saying something to the effect that the whole "tea" reference was a negative. I guess the fact that their new character literally died and decayed in one of their cars is deemed a positive.

Posted by: Bob | Jun 29, 2006 10:33:32 AM

"Fare" enough?

Is that a pun - or is that a mistake?

fare is fair...

Posted by: ChrisM70 | Jun 29, 2006 1:32:30 PM

Couldn't resist using a Grateful Dead reference now could we?

Posted by: Brent | Jun 29, 2006 1:33:15 PM

Isn't the MTA in NYC? Boston's system is the MBTA.

Posted by: yikes | Jun 29, 2006 1:47:34 PM

Yes, "fare" was a pun.

Yes, MTA is in NYC. The song got it wrong, or else the "Bay" was added after the song was written.

Posted by: David Gianatasio | Jun 29, 2006 6:58:37 PM

The "B" was added after the song was written. And Charlie didn't get lost-- they raised the fare and wouldn't let him off because he didn't have the extra cash. Which is why he's so appropriate on the new cards which (unlike the tokens of yesteryear/ last week) hold more than one fare.

Posted by: Kim | Jun 30, 2006 10:13:07 AM

If yr. doomed to "ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston," you are LOST in every sense of the word. (I'll just drive in from now on.)

Posted by: David Gianatasio | Jun 30, 2006 2:36:07 PM

The curse of the charlie card is really a design problem. The MBTA or "the T" always raises prices but still loses money. The Charlie card is an attempt to modernize fare collection as well as relaunch their advetising.

The design problem ? The card is used two ways. One, it is swipped at turnstiles to enter subway and buses. The other is it is presented to conductors on the commuter rail. Each pass lists which month and year the card is valid as well as where the rider is elgible to ride. The old version had the information on both sides so it was easy to tell that information by quickly glancing at EITHER side. Now the information is only on one side and its making the consuctors job hell as half people now have to be told to flip over their cards.

Posted by: andrew feltus | Jul 1, 2006 7:29:29 AM

Come on, folks~ The whole pitch is that Charlie is now thrilled that he can finally get off the subway! Before he couldn't pay the exit fare, and was thus doomed to ride around endlessly. But now he's good to go! And he looks happy in that graphic to me.

Posted by: Charlie on the T | Jun 5, 2007 4:42:52 PM

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