Tuesday, October 20, 2009
That's a smart card ? !?
Travel card myki smart but not fast, Government admits.
Travellers who want to “top up” their new myki public transport ticket online or via a call centre will see their money take up to 24 hours to be credited to their tickets, the Government has revealed in a briefing on *the smartcard* this morning.
Customers will be required to swipe on and off when using the new smartcard.
If customers forget to swipe off, they will be charged a maximum of $9.92.
They will also pay no more than $3 for weekend fares.
One thousand Government users will be trialling the new card over the next month.
Really?! Though I guess these government employees won't be in the chosen few 1,000 government users. They seem to be quite happy using the alternative, paid for by the public, transport system.
COMMUTERS face delays on public transport but Premier John Brumby’s bureaucrats know how to get to work on time – they spent $5.2 million of taxpayers’ money on taxis last year.
Despite Mr Brumby’s vow to cut unnecessary spending and curb greenhouse emissions, his government’s spending on cabs is up almost 15 per cent on the previous year.
Only months after the Herald Sun revealed the taxi bill for 2007-08, the Government has released the latest costs. They show a rise in spending from $4.5 million in 2007-08 to $5.2 million.
Myki offers discounted fares to travellers who switch over from the existing Metcard ticket system.
Myki automatically calculates the best fare for passengers – if they remember to touch off when exiting a train, tram or bus.
Using myki, a public transport user who swipes on and off correctly will pay $2.92 for a two-hour, zone one ticket – 78 cents less than at present.
Currently concession card holders pay $14.70 for a 10 trip Zone 1 ticket - $1.47 per trip.
"Myki offers discounted fares to travellers who switch over from the existing Metcard ticket system."
Assuming that the full fare "$2.92 for a two-hour, zone one ticket" is halved for concession (or in my case a Seniors Card) holder ($1.46) ... WOO-f'k'n'-HOO!! I WILL SAVE 1 CENT PER TRIP!!! What's not to like!!!
Or have I missed something? (Like the train on the Craigieburn line wot was running a couple of minutes early. NOT late - EARLY!)
I've been to the MYKI site and it's about as useful for finding out stuff as a ... insert metaphor of your choice. The search box is up there with that of Telstra's. Points you to pages which have general titles and not the specific term you entered. My metaphor for this exercise? Needle meets haystack.
UPDATE. There's more even more tosspottery from the economic genius who thinks that $40 million losses on the Grand Prix in both 2008 and 2009 is a good deal for Victoria.
The Premier today defended the delay in introducing the new system.
It was due to be introduced in March 2007 and is $350 million over budget.
“I think the main thing is to get it right, the main thing is to make sure that when it’s actually introduced that it works.’’
The myki system has been operating on 320 regional buses in towns including Geelong, (Dave Bath's experience) Seymour, Ballarat and Bendigo.
Operating in regional areas on ONE system - the buses - where commuters can actually talk to and be advised/assisted by the bus driver. In Melbourne try getting help from the tram or train drivers locked away in their cocoons at the front of the vehicle!
Labels: I DO NOT believe it. (I lied. Of course I do.)
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