1975: N.Y. Fares Raised in Crisis by Paul Matus
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     Surprisingly (in view of past experience) most New Yorkers bought the story whole, so that, a few days before the increase took effect, there were actually fewer tokens in the hands of riders than usual.
     Those who kept an eye on the situation must have started to wonder, though, when, on the Wednesday before the new fare, supplies of the new tokens had not yet shown up at token booths as promised. By Friday, the handwriting on the wall became clearer as clerks limited sales to two tokens per passenger. That same night, the TA felt safe in announcing that, due to the lack of hoarding, they were going to retain the old tokens, and save the money that would have been spent on turnstile conversion. The result was instantaneous. Riders swarmed to the token booths for their last opportunity to get a bargain, and the purchase limit was reduced to one per purchaser.
     For the next two days, lines formed at subway stations throughout the city, and some passengers drove their cars from station to station, attempting to get a supply of tokens.
     When Monday (and the new fare) dawned, the familiar old token was still there, but at half-a-buck. The riders buying them were a bit sadder, a bit poorer, and a bit wiser—maybe.

"New York Life"—1906 .

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