On Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:01:12 +0100, Mike Tomlinson wrote:

Why doesn't TfL adopt the Barcelona system - a fixed fare for a single
journey of any length?

Probably because of the (IMV mistaken) idea that public transport should
be a profitable enterprise, rather than a public service.

--
Alex

On Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:01:12 +0100, Mike Tomlinson wrote:

Why doesn't TfL adopt the Barcelona system - a fixed fare for a single
journey of any length?

Probably because of the (IMV mistaken) idea that public transport should
be a profitable enterprise, rather than a public service.

--
Alex

On Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:01:12 +0100, Mike Tomlinson wrote:

Why doesn't TfL adopt the Barcelona system - a fixed fare for a single
journey of any length?

Probably because of the (IMV mistaken) idea that public transport should
be a profitable enterprise, rather than a public service.

--
Alex

On 19/09/2012 13:06, 77002 wrote:
On Sep 19, 12:38 pm, allantracy wrote:
I must confess I've never looked at Oyster cards before, having searched I
see there is a shop next to H&H that sells them. I presume I just ask for
them to be loaded with £x.xx of credit? Does it have to be in certain
increments as I won't be back in London in the foreseeable future. I could
buy enough for HAY-VIC, VIC-HAY & a Zone 1-2 card for the Saturday.

Speaking as an outsider, who rarely visits for more than a day, I have
yet to see the point (advantage) of having an Oyster card.

I just buy the appropriate Travelcard.

I just can't see what Oyster offers that a debit card can't do unless
you use it for single journeys.

I'm told single journeys are cheaper but have yet to find out by how
much.

Your thoughts reflect how I felt until I obtained one. And, for
single day trips to London you may be better of buying a day return to
zones 1thruN.

However, if you travel a lot within London it is very liberating. I
registered my Oyster on-line and added automatic top-up. Buses trips
seem expensive at GBP1.35/boarding. But the Overground and subway
journeys are reasonable.

Well reasonable by London standards. A monthly pass for the County of
Los Angeles is/was very inexpensive. Six years ago I used to buy one
each month for USD58.00 minus the USD30.00 subsidy from my employer.

Journeys outside zone one are particularly inexpensive. Oyster means
there is no lining up to buy tickets, and transitioning between modes
is a breeze.


Yeah, but the problem is that the person in front of you in queue to use
the ticket machine will invariably not have a clue as to how it works.

In article
,
(77002) wrote:

Your thoughts reflect how I felt until I obtained one. And, for
single day trips to London you may be better of buying a day return to
zones 1thruN.

Not always, not from Cambridge anyway. Oyster with the railcard registered
on it is cheaper.

--
Colin Rosenstiel