what are the tokens?

[loki]

in the deleted scene cleon told vermin he was the bear and to carrie the tokens, what are the tokens? and why is he the bear?

[$now4Ever]

The tokens are for like trains and stuff what Cleon meant was that he is like the handler of the group abd helps mange their money and stuff.

[GramercyRiff99]

Yeah, back in 1979 the New York City Subway still used tokens as fare. Nowadays they use smart cards instead. That's what he was talking about.


Right there. They cost 50 cents and got you one fare. They were about the size of a normal coin.

This has been a GramercyRiff99 patented transit history article. Thank you for your time.

[loki]

thanks for that it was confusing me, im to young and in the wrong country to have any idea what they were on about 8)

[theSleepiLizzie_of_2006]

yes in NY there used to be tokens back in the day along with whats called a MetroCard unfortunately the people who run the subways and buses (Metropolitan Transit Authority) decided that the tokens shouldn't be used anymore in 2003 for various reasons ...and now we New Yorkers have to depend only on MetroCards which is easier to carry around rather than a whole bunch of tokens in your pockets as if they were loose change (imagine the 9 guys, 2 way trip so that would be 2 tokens for each...basically if Vermin was the "bear" then he would have to carry 18 tokens in his pocket!)...however the MetroCards are a drag because if they're slightly bent you either have to keep swiping it or go to the person in the subway booth and ask them for help and even if the cards are not bent sometimes the cards are a nuisance and you have to keep swiping correctly until it says go...rather with a token you just put it the slot of the turnstile and walk thru...plus it cost less to take the train or bus back in '79...75 cents compared to today's price of $2.00 each time...pain in the tush!  8)

[GramercyRiff99]

plus it cost less to take the train or bus back in '79...75 cents compared to today's price of $2.00 each time...pain in the tush!  8)

Actually, the fare didn't increase to 75 cents until 1981. The fare was 50 cents in 1979.

An case you can't tell, I'm a bit of a subway nerd .

[trixter468]

I thought his rank was"The Bearer".

[KillerMime]

You're right, Trixter, Vermin was the bearer, not the bear.  Not really a rank, just an assignment for the mission, like music man or soldier heavy muscle.

[theSleepiLizzie_of_2006]

plus it cost less to take the train or bus back in '79...75 cents compared to today's price of $2.00 each time...pain in the tush!  8)

Actually, the fare didn't increase to 75 cents until 1981. The fare was 50 cents in 1979.

An case you can't tell, I'm a bit of a subway nerd .

I thought his rank was"The Bearer".

okay my mistake...but you see where I'm going with this...well i can see that and you're not necessarily from NYC...i'm a bit of a NY subway nerd also...the history of the subway fascinates me from its creation to viewing pictures of how the trains have looked from decade to decade  8)

type error...yes he was the "bearer"

[adam88]

Yes, subways do go way back.  I should have kept a token as a memory, since we now have to use metro cards.  The trains symbolized a neutral world in which transport us from one territory to another.  A world in which people from every walk of life unit to adventure in another atmosphere.  Its like being trapped in limbo. In and between the outside and inside world.  A place we enter which holds the secrets of our destination.  That why the subway will always be remembered.  Its the gateway to our path and destiny of life. 

[COME-OUT-TO-PLAY]

in the deleted scene cleon told vermin he was the bear and to carrie the tokens, what are the tokens? and why is he the bear?

no, he is the bearer, he puts the tokens (type of coin) into slots in the subway so the can get into the train

[Harley]

I still have a couple of tokens from when I was in New York way back in '94.

[theSleepiLizzie_of_2006]

ahh...now this would be a treat: does anybody have a token from 1979? if you don't they looked like this...

[loki]

ok the bearer thats mkes a lot more sense now iget it 8)

[StevenFallonNYC]

Yes, subways do go way back.  I should have kept a token as a memory, since we now have to use metro cards.  The trains symbolized a neutral world in which transport us from one territory to another.  A world in which people from every walk of life unit to adventure in another atmosphere.  Its like being trapped in limbo. In and between the outside and inside world.  A place we enter which holds the secrets of our destination.  That why the subway will always be remembered.  Its the gateway to our path and destiny of life. 

I'm a huge subway fan, luv 'em...funny thing is, before tokens, you actually bought tickets!

I dig the Metrocards though. They don't give "coin smell" to the hands like tokens, are easier, and except for when you have to swipe two or three times, usually always work. Plus, buy a ten dollar Metrocard and you get a free ride .

If you ever want to see the very first subway station in NYC, it's easy. It's the original City Hall station from 1904. Get on the downtown 6 train, and at the last stop, City Hall/Brooklyn Bridge, stay on the train to go around the loop that makes the train turn back uptown. The conductor couldn't care less. The train goes right past the original station, which closed in 1948.

Yes, I am an unabashed subway geek. Meanwhile, I wait anxiously for the completion of the 2nd ave subway (finally!) in 2016! Counting the days!