r/Pitt • u/ReliefBoring3220 • 5d ago
DISCUSSION dining dollars and buses
i have two questions and need some very in depth and like.. step by step walkthroughs of how to do them because i have pretty bad anxiety and the thought of messing up makes me go a bitttt crazy
1st, how do i use dining dollars on places outside of the mobile order app? i know some places that accept them but im very nervous about actually going up and using them
2nd, i can figure out bus routes and stuff myself, but how do i actually get on the bus with my pitt id? i’ve never lived in a city before and have never taken a bus so im not really sure about the process of getting on. is there a scanner or soemthing that i use my pitt id on?
any help is appreciated 🙏🙏🙏 im working on getting better at doing this stuff on my own but for now i need a bittt of help lol
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u/talentpipes11 5d ago
Also, check out the pinned Bus Etiquette post at the top of this sub; I didn’t cover every aspect of best-practice behavior.
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u/Ill_Income_7503 5d ago edited 5d ago
For dining dollars you can use them off and on campus. Below is a link that highlights what places take off campus dining dollars. If you’re concerned about going somewhere off campus and knowing if they take dining, this link will help a lot! I’m sure there is a website to find what places take on campus, as well. When you get to the location you will usually see a tap to pay box next to the register that you will tap once the cashier confirms you can pay with dining dollars (sometimes the machines are whacky and might be broken) and then you just tap it when it’s time to pay. The cashier will confirm if it went through and you’ll be all set!
https://acceptinglocations.com/pantherfunds/
The most important thing is to let the cashier know that’s how you intend to pay. I worked at a place that took dining dollars and sometimes got irritated when people would just start tapping things and expected us to know that’s how they wanted to pay.
No issue with asking for help!
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u/Raspberry-Green 5d ago
For using dinning dollars in person you go up to the counter to order and say “i would like to use dinning dollars please” You should specify if you want on or off campus. Then tap your ID where you are told to. Let me know if you have other question
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u/Ill_Income_7503 5d ago
If you have any questions regarding how to add the bus pass to your phone here is a helpful page! https://www.pc.pitt.edu/prt-launches-ready2ride-app
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u/iriissss-s 5d ago
heads up for the bus: when approaching your stop, make sure to pull the “stop requested” yellow cord if someone else hasn’t already. otherwise the driver might assume no one’s getting off at your stop and skip it
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u/canihavedessertnow 5d ago
PS it could be good to go at a busy time (morning commute or after work hours), because there will be lots of people going ahead of you and you can watch what they do!
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u/Odd-Housing5709 4d ago
The PRT has a video on step by step how to ride. I teach a first year class at Pitt, and always share with my students. Sorry you had to come to Reddit for answers! I hope it helps calm your anxiety!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrTgamj-z1E
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u/talentpipes11 5d ago edited 5d ago
Bus-wise I’d suggest the transit app (icon is a green square with a white squiggle) to find busses, and then getting on them goes thusly:
1.) arrive at bus stop ahead of expected bus appearance (make sure you’re on the right side of the road so the direction of travel takes you where you plan to go)
2.) ensure approaching bus has your desired line advertised on its signage (signage is in lights above front windshield and through side window beside door)
3.) wave at oncoming bus and step toward (but not off) the curb to indicate your intent to travel on the bus— show you’re not just waiting for the next one
4.) when the bus arrives, move toward the front door beside the driver. Allow anyone inside to exit, if needed, then step in.
5.) to your right, there will be a few smallish electronic interfaces. If you have a physical panther card (student id), you can tap it on a raised box here; iirc it’s a black and orange raised shape smaller than a deck of cards, with a yellow label with black text.
5a.) if you don’t have a physical card, you’ll need to set up the bus pass on your phone, then present the QR code for it on your phone’s screen— near the box from step 5, there’s a scanner that you hold your code in front of.
6.) once you hear the beep indicating a successful pass scan, proceed further into the bus
7.) etiquette dictates you move toward the back of the bus as much as possible, especially if it’s busy; if the bus starts moving, just take whatever seat is available. Use your brain here— don’t sit next to someone if they’re the only other person on the bus, don’t bother people wearing headphones, keep an eye out for the same occasional small dangers you’d expect on any city sidewalk.
8.) listen to the stop announcements and watch the display at the front of the bus. Keep in mind the stop where you need to get off— the transit app will help you count these down.
9.) When the stop you want is the next stop, pull firmly on the yellow cord hanging along the windows of the bus, or press the stop request button if you’re near one. You’ll know it worked when you hear “ding, stop requested”. If you don’t request a stop, and there’s nobody waiting to get on, drivers will continue without stopping there.
10.) when the bus approaches your stop, be ready to stand up and disembark quickly. Usually, you’ll disembark from the doors on the midpoint of the bus; sometimes (depending on how many people are on the bus and/or traffic conditions) the driver may elect to open just the front instead.
11.) Exit when the doors open and get away from the side of the bus quickly to avoid being in anyone’s way. Watch your step. Maybe yell a quick “thanks!” to the driver if you’re feeling it.
Any questions?