December 13th, 2009, 09:53 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cesspit Tewkesbury, Glos.
Posts: 72
Thanks: 40
Thanked 585 Times in 71 Posts
|
Questions for our American friends
When viewing numerous American shows and films there are sometimes two scenarios that occur that I don't understand how they work, they are not life changing events or that important really I guess, just that it bugs the hell out of me.
What does it mean when you ask a shop assistant to 'validate your parking'? When someone gets onto a bus they just sit down and the bus continues on with it journey. When and who do you actually pay the fare to? Cheers from England. |
The Following 22 Users Say Thank You to edward126 For This Useful Post: |
|
December 13th, 2009, 09:57 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 406
Thanks: 10,881
Thanked 3,513 Times in 392 Posts
|
I think "Validate your parking" means to stamp the ticket you picked up from the customer car park, to make sure you don't get fined for illegally parking - pretty much the same as happens in Sainsbury's here. (Though I don't drive, so I'm not sure how it works exactly.)
I have no idea about the bus thing. Maybe they have passes, like Oyster cards in London? |
The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to Aubrey For This Useful Post: |
December 13th, 2009, 03:54 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 38
Thanks: 3,158
Thanked 309 Times in 29 Posts
|
Answers
As far as the parking ... in large cities, especially, some stores contract with parking structures so if a customer buys something at the store, they are not charged for their time in the parking garage (we're still a quite car-centered society, if you couldn't tell). When you park in the structure, you are given a receipt or ticket, which you don't pay until you leave (the charge is usually based on how many hours you're parked). So if you buy something, the store "validates your parking." Why the word "validate" came to be used, I don't know.
As far as the bus, I think that's probably more of a film-making shortcut, although some cities do have certain zones where bus travel is free. |
The Following 19 Users Say Thank You to karlafong For This Useful Post: |
December 13th, 2009, 04:28 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 31
Thanks: 42
Thanked 718 Times in 27 Posts
|
In regards to the american buses you swipe your fare card at the meter by the bus driver. you can also deposit cash in it. maybe in the movies you have seen they left out that part.
|
The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to surfpunk For This Useful Post: |
December 13th, 2009, 04:45 PM | #5 |
Vintage Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 660
Thanks: 2,389
Thanked 6,300 Times in 648 Posts
|
When the ex and I visited San Francisco in 1990 we decided to catch a bus to Fisherman's Wharf. We were severely lambasted by the driver for not having the correct change and he didn't have change. He begrudgingly let as on for free but luckily a passenger came to our rescue and paid for us with his spare change
(Another pointer if you are visiting the US, if the taxi fare is going to be say $20 make sure you have more than the $20 on you!!) |
The Following 14 Users Say Thank You to eelcat For This Useful Post: |
December 13th, 2009, 04:59 PM | #6 |
Former Staff
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: deep swamp
Posts: 1,328
Thanks: 36,800
Thanked 10,023 Times in 1,253 Posts
|
no actually not, most do but it is not a requirement in most places. they have prepaid for so many spots a year and just use them up.
|
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to flake56 For This Useful Post: |
December 14th, 2009, 02:45 AM | #7 |
Palerider
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 509
Thanks: 5,603
Thanked 9,863 Times in 515 Posts
|
FWIW, I've been here my whole life and never come across parking validation, or fare free busing.Unless it's a free shuttle, or like someone pointed out, a trip that requires a ticket, these things probably aren't as common as the movies would lead you to believe.
|
The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to anklebiter For This Useful Post: |
December 14th, 2009, 03:16 AM | #8 | ||
Vintage Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Somewhere flat, that's either hot, cold, or windy ... Canada?
Posts: 1,966
Thanks: 42,100
Thanked 21,355 Times in 1,903 Posts
|
Hi edward ,
I have a few answers for North America in general (but not the U.S.A). Quote:
Also, many corporations, schools, hospitals, etc. monitor their parking lots and watch out for non-employees parking and taking up expensive spaces. They will also "validate your parking" by providing special stickers or dash cards, or registering your license plates with security personnel, etc. so you do not get fined or towed because you are parking illegally. Quote:
I have noticed that movies and TV shows rarely show the characters presenting any sort of fare or pass--it is not just you who noticed this lack in N.A. buses ... I hope this helps, e.d. |
||
The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to electile disfunction For This Useful Post: |
December 14th, 2009, 09:31 AM | #9 |
Beloved Brother
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Cemetery Gardens_Arterial Blood Lane_Rampton Secure Unit_Extra Violent F Wing_Cell 19
Posts: 69,106
Thanks: 372,713
Thanked 987,902 Times in 69,067 Posts
|
I have a question and it`s been bugging me ever since i saw a movie (So our American friends know what i`m talking about) where this dude (Once again) said he had to hurry up and put on a pair of pants .
But he was already wearing pants and instead put on trousers ??? Hey like what gives you know Also i saw another movie where this chick asked for some soda , but wasn`t given any bread simply a carbonated beverage ??? Hey like what gives you know Just thought i`d ask a couple of blindingly obvious questions , to fit in with the theme. Blame peer pressure ok
__________________
My hypocrisy only goes so To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
The Following 19 Users Say Thank You to MaxJoker For This Useful Post: |
December 14th, 2009, 11:25 AM | #10 |
Vintage Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 1,464
Thanks: 4,856
Thanked 25,705 Times in 1,431 Posts
|
Hardee har, GreenSkull, you're so full of it!
|
The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to brianwp For This Useful Post: |
|
|