Paul Corfield wrote:

On this basis I have a RATP Mobilis card (their version of a ODTC but
you have a ID card), a Singapore EZ Pass, Hong Kong Octopus and Tokyo
Suica. I've had magnetic Metrocards in Hong Kong and paper "seasons"
in other cities. I cannot claim to know all the ins and outs of these
fare systems but I do what most people will do and that is search the
web and do a bit of research beforehand.

Is that what "most people" do? Really? Have you got any surveys to
back you up on this?

I know I've never looked up how to pay for the local public transport
before taking a trip somewhere. Check whether there is any public
transport nearby, yes. But nothing more. And I know people who don't
even do that much.

While I suppose I might be deemed an "expert user" here in London I
can't be said to be that in these other places. I cannot recall ever
being wrongly charged nor have I been caught out by the system other
than a couple of times in Paris.

Compare that with how often London's Oyster goes wrong, and it's
obvious that TfL must be doing something wrong somewhere.

"solar penguin" wrote in message
...

Paul Corfield wrote:

On this basis I have a RATP Mobilis card (their version of a ODTC but
you have a ID card), a Singapore EZ Pass, Hong Kong Octopus and Tokyo
Suica. I've had magnetic Metrocards in Hong Kong and paper "seasons"
in other cities. I cannot claim to know all the ins and outs of these
fare systems but I do what most people will do and that is search the
web and do a bit of research beforehand.

Is that what "most people" do? Really? Have you got any surveys to
back you up on this?

I know I've never looked up how to pay for the local public transport
before taking a trip somewhere. Check whether there is any public
transport nearby, yes. But nothing more. And I know people who don't
even do that much.

Don't got to southern Sweden then!.

As of June you will no longer be able to pay your fare "on the bus". You
either buy a ticket from a station or pay with (their) Oyster equivalent (or
walk)

tim

On Fri, 6 May 2011 15:13:03 +0100
"tim...." wrote:
As of June you will no longer be able to pay your fare "on the bus". You
either buy a ticket from a station or pay with (their) Oyster equivalent (or
walk)

Sounds like another place where the convenience of the operator is more
important than that of the paying passenger.

B2003

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 6 May 2011 15:13:03 +0100
"tim...." wrote:
As of June you will no longer be able to pay your fare "on the bus". You
either buy a ticket from a station or pay with (their) Oyster equivalent
(or
walk)

Sounds like another place where the convenience of the operator is more
important than that of the paying passenger.

Seems to have been imposed upon them by the Swedish equivalent of H&SE :-(

(can't find out why)

On Fri, 6 May 2011 15:13:03 +0100, tim.... wrote:

Don't got to southern Sweden then!.

As of June you will no longer be able to pay your fare "on the bus". You
either buy a ticket from a station or pay with (their) Oyster equivalent (or
walk)

Or pay with your mobile.

--
jhk

In message , at 22:08:46 on
Fri, 6 May 2011, Paul Corfield remarked:

If people don't research before travel I wonder why we get so many posts
on here from potential visitors about how tickets work, what trains to
catch, how to use the buses etc etc?

Because this is a self-selected group of people who are interested in
researching fares.

I never cease to be amazed at the majority of people I travel with
abroad just jump into taxis and are aghast at the idea they could work
out how to get a train or bus (even when there's a very obvious
point-to-point service between the airport and their destination).

For example, there's a much under-used machine by the exit of Geneva's
baggage reclaim hall that dispenses a free public transport ticket.
There's a railway station (all the frequent trains stop at the city
centre) under the concourse, and buses and trolleybuses right outside.
Some people are being picked up, but loads head straight for the taxi
rank.
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 22:08:46 on
Fri, 6 May 2011, Paul Corfield remarked:

If people don't research before travel I wonder why we get so many posts
on here from potential visitors about how tickets work, what trains to
catch, how to use the buses etc etc?

Because this is a self-selected group of people who are interested in
researching fares.

I never cease to be amazed at the majority of people I travel with abroad
just jump into taxis and are aghast at the idea they could work out how to
get a train or bus (even when there's a very obvious point-to-point
service between the airport and their destination).

Are these people that you travel with spending OPM

tim

In message , at 11:53:49 on Sat, 7 May
2011, tim.... remarked:

I never cease to be amazed at the majority of people I travel with abroad
just jump into taxis and are aghast at the idea they could work out how to
get a train or bus (even when there's a very obvious point-to-point
service between the airport and their destination).

Are these people that you travel with spending OPM

It varies. Not very many will be employed in the private sector, there
being a skew towards not-for-profit, academia and public sector. Of
course, the ones who have paid for a longhaul air flight themselves, and
then go on to stay in a typically $200 a night hotel, may not be to
worried about the odd $50 taxi fare.

There's also the "safety" aspect, where when visiting some countries
it's probably not a good idea to wander round the streets looking lost.
But I don't think many European (or even north American) cities come
into that category. The trick is, not having a "one size fits all"
travel policy.
--
Roland Perry

In message , Roland Perry
writes

I never cease to be amazed at the majority of people I travel with
abroad just jump into taxis

And that can be a seriously bad idea in some cities. Jumping into the
nearest taxi at Prague airport (which has no rail connections) is a
recipe for a rip-off, if not a mugging - pre-booking with a reputable
company or through the information desk at the airport really is
essential for safety.
--
Paul Terry

Paul Corfield wrote:

On Fri, 6 May 2011 06:13:21 -0700 (PDT), solar penguin
wrote:


Paul Corfield wrote:

On this basis I have a RATP Mobilis card (their version of a ODTC but
you have a ID card), a Singapore EZ Pass, Hong Kong Octopus and Tokyo
Suica. I've had magnetic Metrocards in Hong Kong and paper "seasons"
in other cities. I cannot claim to know all the ins and outs of these
fare systems but I do what most people will do and that is search the
web and do a bit of research beforehand.

Is that what "most people" do? Really? Have you got any surveys to
back you up on this?

No surveys to prove it. Do you have some surveys to disprove my point?
We can trade points like this all day if you'd like ;-)

_You're_ the one making the claim. It's _your_ claim so it's up to
_you_ to prove it, not up to me to disprove it.


I know I've never looked up how to pay for the local public transport
before taking a trip somewhere. Check whether there is any public
transport nearby, yes. But nothing more. And I know people who don't
even do that much.

OK so some people are different. If people don't bother to the extent
that you are suggesting I do rather wonder why operators in all these
foreign places bother to put any helpful info on their websites in
English for visitors. Why not let them wallow in their ignorance and use
taxis rather than public transport during their visit?

If people don't research before travel I wonder why we get so many posts
on here from potential visitors about how tickets work, what trains to
catch, how to use the buses etc etc?

I never said that no-one ever does research. I'm just questioning
your claim that "most people" do it.

While I suppose I might be deemed an "expert user" here in London I
can't be said to be that in these other places. I cannot recall ever
being wrongly charged nor have I been caught out by the system other
than a couple of times in Paris.

Compare that with how often London's Oyster goes wrong, and it's
obvious that TfL must be doing something wrong somewhere.

So you're prepared to accept my single example based on a few trips as
some sort of proof that TfL's system is broken.

At least that _is_ a real example based on real trips, not something
you've just made up with no evidence at all.

Even a little evidence is still better than none.

There may be all sorts
of problems going on with these other systems that I have never fallen
across.

But compare that with how easy it is to fall across problems with
Oyster PAYG. It's unlikely you could use it for even a few trips
without coming across some sort of problem. That's the difference.

You just don't like Oyster - that's fine. However don't try to
"get me" over having survey evidence and then using a sample of one to
support your dislike of Oyster in the same thread!! It's not exactly a
consistent position.

I'm sorry for thinking "a sample of one" was more than nothing at
all. You see, I have this old-fashioned idea that one is somehow more
than none. Obviously that doesn't apply in the topsy-turvy world of
Oyster...