04-12-2016, 09:22 AM
They're replacing a system operated by a trained professional with a system that needs to be operated by any member of the public, individually, in series.
Yeah, no way this is going to be slower.
I understand the requirement to have what I call colloquially the "boop" so that riders can tap their farecards and enter the transit. And once the farecards are in force, this approach can perhaps be approximately as fast and accurate as the previous "driver presses a button for passes and transfers, users insert change or tickets" system... but I somehow doubt the new farebox will accept "boops" as quickly as the old farebox could accept button presses.
At least the slowness of tickets will be removed.
What are the chances that (for iXpress buses, maybe?) they put one at the front and one by the back door so users can enter and exit by both? (turn the bus into a subway car)
And how will the UW/WLU passes work? Will the WATCARD/ONECARD have to update to have NFC payment tech embedded that students will then have monthly passes loaded on? Or will students just be granted monthly pass products which they can then load onto their easygo card (sold separately)?
(( I note that this will have an interesting effect on students who assumed for their in-town co-op that they'd be able to continue using their student ID for transit. I'm almost certain the Universities will load four months' passes on at a time, not a year. So if you are on co-op you're on your own. Will this increase revenue for monthly passes or decrease ridership? ))
Yeah, no way this is going to be slower.
I understand the requirement to have what I call colloquially the "boop" so that riders can tap their farecards and enter the transit. And once the farecards are in force, this approach can perhaps be approximately as fast and accurate as the previous "driver presses a button for passes and transfers, users insert change or tickets" system... but I somehow doubt the new farebox will accept "boops" as quickly as the old farebox could accept button presses.
At least the slowness of tickets will be removed.
What are the chances that (for iXpress buses, maybe?) they put one at the front and one by the back door so users can enter and exit by both? (turn the bus into a subway car)
And how will the UW/WLU passes work? Will the WATCARD/ONECARD have to update to have NFC payment tech embedded that students will then have monthly passes loaded on? Or will students just be granted monthly pass products which they can then load onto their easygo card (sold separately)?
(( I note that this will have an interesting effect on students who assumed for their in-town co-op that they'd be able to continue using their student ID for transit. I'm almost certain the Universities will load four months' passes on at a time, not a year. So if you are on co-op you're on your own. Will this increase revenue for monthly passes or decrease ridership? ))