In message , TKD
writes
This is not a limitation. The balance comes up on the screen of the bus
and on the tube gates - there is no way that you can't have a rough
idea of what you have.
I've never worked this out.
Although my balance always seems to come up on 'bus readers, only once
or twice have I seen it come up on a tube gate reader. I thought at
one time that that was because I's just topped up but maybe there's
another reason for its apparently randomly doing this?
Incidentally, as someone who by definition deal with large numbers of
visitors (tourists) to London, can I chime in with some observations
here?
I think that the concept of cheaper fares on Pre Pay is something very
difficult to explain to the casual traveller. Indeed, even the thought
of having to buy tickets from a roadside machine before climbing on a
'bus seems to put off many of my clients!
This morning I dropped an assorted group from the North of England and
North Staffordshire at Park Lane for the day. Some wanted to get to
Westminster Pier and others to Covent Garden.
The couple wanting Covent Garden were planning to go by bus but didn't
as they couldn't find any saying "Covent Garden" on the front. Hmmmmm.
The couple going to Westminster Pier had actually sought my advice about
going by 'bus. I sent them to catch a 159 (which remember didn't even
require buying a ticket from a roadside machine, being an RM route).
When they came back this afternoon, both couples turned out to have each
taken a taxi both ways (and complained about the cost!). They were
just too daunted by the thought of using public transport to even try.
It made me rather sad and when I have to explain the very high price of
casual tickets in the future or try to explain about Oyster Pre Pay,
well, I dread to think!
Now don't get me wrong,. I think that Oyster Pre-Pay is great
(although I feel it should have included NR from the start). Indeed,
it sometimes feels as though it was specially conceived just to suit my
personal needs! But it does daunt occasional travellers and will I
fear stop even more of them from using public transport.
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK
Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk