On Feb 3, 8:27*am, ticketyboo wrote:

Exactly what happens with Oyster: very many rarely used (including
mine) or never again used cards [1]. But, given the very large gap
between Oyster fares and cash fares, the incentive is there to get an
Oyster card when making only one visit to London. There really ought
to be an expiry date on these type of cards in a metropolitan area -
perhaps 3 years. Maybe make them renewable until such time as the
scheme operator needs to replace them, but renewed only by an explicit
action by the card holder.

Many probably disappear as souvenirs. I have one from Singapore and
one from Delhi which I kept for that purpose. I doubt I'll remember
to take them if I go again.

Perhaps people could be encouraged to return them if doing so was
easier? I don't see why a machine shouldn't be provided to take one
back and return the deposit and outstanding balance. (Though it's not
totally simple, as I guess a refund of balance paid by credit card
must go back to the credit card).

Neil