Re: Melbourne validators eat tickets

Mike Alexander (malex@bigfoot.com)
5 Feb 1998 08:04:27 GMT

> > The situation is a real problem at Flinders St. where the "helpful" Met
> > guys keep bouncing around the gates, blocking and unblocking the
lightbeams
> > as they lean over to help people. Sometimes the gates get confused, and
I
> > have seen people with valid tickets get locked in, because the Met guy
has
> > caused the gate to close before the person has got through.
>
> As a metcard Host all i can say is we do try to be helpful. Spare a
> thought for us, we're all casuals, we lose our jobs when the system
> goes 100% live. We also have to endure being pushed into walls, spat
> upon and verbally abused by people angry at the TVM's.

True, I guess I was tarring them all with the same brush. As with all jobs,
there are people who are good at it, some are OK, and some are absolutely
terrible. I have watched the Flinders St. gates for a while, and concluded
that the problems are mainly caused by:

1) People not validating on their way in, and then not being able to get
out.
2) The bi-directional operation of the gates causing confusion and bad
passenger flow.
3) Unfamiliarity.
4) The hosts standing in the gates, and causing them to close prematurely.
5) Mechanical failure.

So, I was just commenting on point 4.

BTW, as a host, do you get to suggest improvements to the system? (if so,
_please_ get them to drop the bi-directional mode of the gates) Also, what
is the "inside" view on the implementation?

Sorry for any offence,

Mike Alexander
(malex@bigfoot.com)