In message , CLYDE
DEMPSTER writes
Hi

No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been wondering
why an oystercard is called an oystercard?

I presume (though without any justification) that it's a pun on "the
world is your Oyster", implying how far and how much you can do with
one. (Enter discussion about Pre-pay validity on NR, peripheral bus
routes and so on.......)

Why not clamcard or mollusccard?

I rather like mollusccard.
I prefer Clamcard! :-P

Seriously, I'm surprised they didn't come up with a more
"London-centric" name. CapitalCard would have been good (most people
have probably forgotten its previous incarnation now).
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk

On Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:06:46 +0000, Ian Jelf
wrote:

In message , CLYDE
DEMPSTER writes
Hi

No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been wondering
why an oystercard is called an oystercard?

I presume (though without any justification) that it's a pun on "the
world is your Oyster", implying how far and how much you can do with
one. (Enter discussion about Pre-pay validity on NR, peripheral bus
routes and so on.......)

As Tom points out, I assume it's partly because the Hong Kong version
is called "Octopus", and partly because you can keep it closed when
you go through the barriers.

Phil Clark wrote:
On Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:06:46 +0000, Ian Jelf
wrote:


In message , CLYDE
DEMPSTER writes

Hi

No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been wondering
why an oystercard is called an oystercard?

I presume (though without any justification) that it's a pun on "the
world is your Oyster", implying how far and how much you can do with
one. (Enter discussion about Pre-pay validity on NR, peripheral bus
routes and so on.......)


As Tom points out, I assume it's partly because the Hong Kong version
is called "Octopus", and partly because you can keep it closed when
you go through the barriers.

Is it not because the yellow things you touch in and out on look vaguely
oyster shaped?

"Phil Clark" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:06:46 +0000, Ian Jelf
wrote:

In message , CLYDE
DEMPSTER writes
Hi

No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been
wondering
why an oystercard is called an oystercard?

I presume (though without any justification) that it's a pun on "the
world is your Oyster", implying how far and how much you can do with
one. (Enter discussion about Pre-pay validity on NR, peripheral bus
routes and so on.......)

As Tom points out, I assume it's partly because the Hong Kong version
is called "Octopus", and partly because you can keep it closed when
you go through the barriers.

A few 'pearls' of wisdom there then!

Paul