In none of these stories have they said why it's borked.
I'm assuming it's problems are worse than our smartcard where sometimes swiping off doesn't work (only off, never on -- curious, no, considering the slug you for a full 8 zone journey of you don't tag off properly) and it is designed so it is very hard to see and keep track of without logging in. (The old ezyrider was much better).
Data point: I have on occasion had errors at touch-on. Usually though, rather than touch on, I just have buses where the bus driver waves everyone on without making them try.
I have noticed there's a big divide about the differences between the experiences of train users and bus users. Bus users do tend to be pretty happy - you can top the cards up anywhere you'd have gone to make change in the past, or you can use the machines on the busway. You no longer have to talk to the bus driver if you don't want to, streamlining the on/off, especially since you do
That choke point thing is a real kicker, though. Basically, buses have four touch points each for around 220 people, with even at peak 6 or 7 people using them at a time. Dutton park has that many in total! Central station has, lesse....maybe 12? Busiest station in town only has 12 or so touch points active! For a couple of thousand people! And if they fuck up they take forever to get through. I have missed trains due to that.
I've heard of the bus thing, and am glad I only catch the free buses. I have no idea how many touch points there might be. I'd guess two since my local train station only had two until recently (one at each end of the platform) and at peak hours I've seen people queuing while you swipe, check if it beeps correctly, swipe again if it doesn't, wait, repeat. Wait for the buffer to chear, do it again.
I have no idea how many touch points Perth train station has. I'd guess 30.
Sorry, I should have made it clear I'm over in Brisvegas. The Go card is basically a sucess as far as the buses go and a failure for the trains, due to those choke points you mentioned. I quite like the system here, actually. I've had more free trips than overcharges on the balance, and it's made my transit time much quicker. But then, I mostly take buses.
Makes me a bit gladder i never bothered with Myki, but then there was no real incentive to use it (other than the possibility of Metcard eventually being phased out) - no benefits and some drawbacks to me as a user.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-02-23 12:53 am (UTC)I'm assuming it's problems are worse than our smartcard where sometimes swiping off doesn't work (only off, never on -- curious, no, considering the slug you for a full 8 zone journey of you don't tag off properly) and it is designed so it is very hard to see and keep track of without logging in. (The old ezyrider was much better).
Also, direct debt gripes.
Also: it creates choke points at train stations.
I talk about Go Card!
Date: 2011-02-23 04:31 am (UTC)I have noticed there's a big divide about the differences between the experiences of train users and bus users. Bus users do tend to be pretty happy - you can top the cards up anywhere you'd have gone to make change in the past, or you can use the machines on the busway. You no longer have to talk to the bus driver if you don't want to, streamlining the on/off, especially since you do
That choke point thing is a real kicker, though. Basically, buses have four touch points each for around 220 people, with even at peak 6 or 7 people using them at a time. Dutton park has that many in total! Central station has, lesse....maybe 12? Busiest station in town only has 12 or so touch points active! For a couple of thousand people! And if they fuck up they take forever to get through. I have missed trains due to that.
Re: I talk about Go Card!
Date: 2011-02-23 04:35 am (UTC)I have no idea how many touch points Perth train station has. I'd guess 30.
Re: I talk about Go Card!
Date: 2011-02-23 04:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-23 02:13 am (UTC)Makes me a bit gladder i never bothered with Myki, but then there was no real incentive to use it (other than the possibility of Metcard eventually being phased out) - no benefits and some drawbacks to me as a user.