How to pay for public transportation in Toronto?

How to pay for transit in Toronto?

Okay, paying for transit in Toronto… Hmm, it’s kinda annoying tbh. Gotta remember what I used last time.

• PRESTO Card: Yeah, gotta load that up. Always forget.
• One-ride, two-ride, day pass PRESTO Ticket: Are these still a thing?

Like, do they even sell those Presto tickets anymore? TTC tickets and tokens are gone, I think. Swear I saw someone using one, but maybe it was old?

• Debit/Credit card: Contactless payment is good.
• Exact cash: Ugh, who even carries cash?
• Day Pass: Weekends…Maybe worth it, if you are going to travel a lot.

Also, bus/streetcar drivers? No change given. Be ready to pay! Wait, did I remember to bring my wallet? Crap! My friend Jenny always carries those PRESTO cards… she is organized.

Further Information

• PRESTO card is a reloadable payment card accepted on the TTC, GO Transit, UP Express, and other transit agencies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). You can load funds onto your card online, at fare vending machines, or at participating retailers.
• PRESTO Ticket is a limited-use paper ticket available for single rides, two rides, or day passes.
• Contactless payment with debit or credit cards is available on all TTC buses, streetcars, and subway stations. Tap your card on the PRESTO reader.
• Day Pass allows for unlimited travel on the TTC for one day.
• Exact Cash is accepted on buses and streetcars only. Subway stations do not accept cash.
• Transfers are issued when paying with cash, debit, or credit. Show your transfer to the driver or collector when boarding a connecting vehicle.

Can you pay for the bus with cash in Toronto?

Toronto buses: Cash fares accepted. No change given. Subway stations also take cash.

Key Points:

• Cash payments: Possible on buses.
• Change: Not provided.
• Subway: Cash accepted there too.

My last bus ride was on the 501 Queen streetcar, 2023-10-27. Exact fare is essential. Avoid the 90 minute transfer system if using cash; it’s a headache. Using a Presto card is smoother.

How do you ride public transport in Toronto?

The city unfolds, a tapestry of brick and glass, under a bruised twilight sky. A rumbling, a low thrum – the promise of transit. The bus, a metal beast, waits. My hand, a nervous flutter, finds the PRESTO card. Cold plastic against my skin. The click – a silent pact with the city’s rhythm.

Streetcars, ancient but elegant, whisper past. A different grace, a slower pulse. They are like shimmering ribbons, weaving through the concrete canyons. Again, the tap – payment, acceptance, a fleeting connection. Cash, a relic, feels strangely intimate. Its weight, a small rebellion against the digital ease.

The farebox, a metal maw. It swallows tokens, coins, forgotten promises. There’s a quiet dignity, a solemn transaction.

A transfer machine humming in the belly of a streetcar. More than a transaction; it’s a ritual. The mechanical whirring. The paper ticket – a small, brittle map of the journey. I’ve seen it all, I’ve done it all.

PRESTO is the way. Effortless, almost magical. A tap, and you’re in. Cash is a cumbersome option. I find myself using it only when my PRESTO card is missing – which has happened.

Toronto unfolds, then, by card. By touch. By the rhythmic movement of the vehicles. 2024 and the city’s pulse beats with each transaction. This is my Toronto. The feeling is distinct, even profound. It’s the very fabric of my life. This is how I move. This is the ritual. This is home.

Can you pay cash for Toronto subway?

No cash. Presto card required.

Alternatives: One-ride ticket. Day pass. Credit/debit.

Bus/streetcar operators don’t handle cash. Prepare payment beforehand. My last ride? Used my debit card. July 12, 2024, around 5 pm.

• Presto Card: Essential. Load it beforehand.
• Tickets: Single, day passes available. Limited availability at some stations.
• Digital Payment: Credit, debit accepted. Avoid delays.
• Cash: Strictly prohibited on buses and streetcars. Subway station ticket vending machines may have limited cash functionality. Check TTC website for updates.

Does Toronto Transit take cash?

Cash? Bless your heart. In this day and age? Okay, yes, Toronto Transit accepts cash, but darling, are you trying to make things difficult? It’s like bringing a horse-drawn carriage to a Formula 1 race.

You CAN use PRESTO cards, those snazzy little things, or maybe a one-ride, two-ride, or day pass PRESTO Ticket. Feeling retro? TTC tickets and tokens still work! (If you can find them, that is. Like, seriously. Good luck.)

Don’t forget the trusty debit or credit card, or even a transfer. Oh, and that aforementioned exact cash. But, warning! The bus drivers and streetcar conductors? They’re not running a bank. No change given.

• Avoid the panic: Have fare ready beforehand. Seriously.
• Retro Nostalgia: Tokens? Consider them collector’s items now!
• Cash is King?: More like cash is a mildly inconveniencing option.
• Tech Savvy: PRESTO is your friend, embrace the future, people!

Did I mention I once saw someone try to pay with buttons? Ah, Toronto. Always a show.

Can I use my credit card instead of PRESTO?

Nope. Mostly, yes. It’s a tap-and-go world, isn’t it? Like trying to pay for artisanal goat cheese with a crumpled twenty – sometimes it works, sometimes it’s a goat rodeo.

Credit cards? Generally, a go. Think of it as a slightly less reliable version of your trusty PRESTO card. A charmingly flaky friend, if you will.

• Visa, Mastercard, Amex? Usually accepted.
• Interac debit? Often plays nice.
• Phone/watch tap? Smooth as butter, most of the time.

But… some credit cards are digital Luddites. They refuse to play ball with the transit system’s tech. It’s a digital snobbery issue, I tell ya. My Bank of Montreal card, for instance, works flawlessly. My old Capital One, not so much.

Bottom line: It’s a gamble. Unless you have a specific credit card, you should probably just stick with PRESTO. Unless you’re feeling adventurous, then, go for it! You might even save a few bucks by gaining a fancy new reward point.

Unless, of course, you’re one of those people who still uses cash. Then, my friend, you’re truly living in the dark ages.

(2024 Update): I’ve seen even more credit card acceptance at transit points this year compared to last. Progress, I guess. It’s like those annoying autocorrect suggestions that end up being right sometimes.

What do I do if I forgot my PRESTO card?

Oh, the PRESTO card vanishes? It’s like socks in the dryer. Here’s the escape plan:

• Acquire a new PRESTO card. Think of it as adopting a new pet, minus the shedding. Customer service, Shoppers (for your cough syrup and transit needs!), or the vending machine. Your choice.

• Patience, young grasshopper! The system needs a full day to recognize your new plastic friend. 24 hours, no less. I bet my succulents root faster.

• Transfer your balance. If possible. This is, assuming you had any actual money on the old one. A real gamble, I say.

Deeper Dive (Because why not?)

So, you’ve lost your PRESTO? That little rectangular beacon of hope.

• The Cost: Getting a new card will set you back $$6.00. Ouch. Cheaper than therapy though.

• Transfer: Login to your account online after activation and transfer the balance, they say, it takes 24 hours. It probably takes longer, to be honest, just saying.

• Prevention is key. Put it on your keychain. Stick it to your phone. Tattoo it on your forehead. Okay, maybe not that last one.