db> Sorry Chrystal, but I don't for one moment believe that the PTC sold
db> more Short Trip tickets than Dailies on trams before the machines
db> started running. When I used to catch the 67 in to work in St Kilda
db> Road every day, probably 70% of the ticket sales in the morning would
db> be for dailies.
I see mainly 2 hour and dailies on the morning tram, while the afternoon
has a mix of 2 hour and short trip bought. BTW, this is on the peak
hour 59 tram.
db> Remember back in 1990 when they introduced scratch tickets - and
db> suddenly daily tickets weren't available on trams (and buses!)? I'd say
db> the same beauraucrats who made the decision back then have made it this
db> time round too. And my theory as to why it is so is that it's to
db> encourage retail outlet sales. I think there's no way you'd get a large
db> network of willing retail outlets if they didn't have the prospect of
db> lots of Daily ticket sales.
I have a problem with this. Many people don't walk past a retail outlet
before their tram/bus stop (much more likely at a train station). As
the city end of my trip is mainly in a business sector, and time is
usually tighter on this leg, pre purchase in the city isn't a convenient
option, except at the station itself.
I'd prefer a "phonecard" style of operation, where you can pre purchase
$x amount of travel on the tram and validate it as necessary. Probably
not practical though. :)
db> It'll be interesting to see what they discover about travelling
db> patterns. I was surveyed (using a paper system) yesterday about my
db> travel patterns. A lot of the information on the form would be
db> available automatically through MetCard.
db> I think the initial validation of train tickets is something a lot of
db> people don't know about, so perhaps more emphasis should be placed on
db> this. I know it is seen as inconvenient, but the plus of being able to
db> buy tickets from station TVMs in advance far outweighs it, IMHO. (This
db> should probably be pointed out to more people too - it would help with
db> the long queues at machines on weekday mornings if people knew they
db> could buy tomorrow's ticket on the way home tonight.)
Possibly, though as I'm in transit between a train and a tram at this
stage of the trip, not necessarily convenient. Still, worth a look. :-)
db> Very true. I know people who would travel around on the train with an
db> unscratched Scratch Ticket and only scratch it if they came to a
db> manned barrier.
Hehe, reminds me of an incident on a V/Line train once. I used to be
into amateur radio, and carried a handheld radio around everywhere.
When I got on the train at St Albans, a couple of young guys started
talking. One said "Are you an inspector"? When I said no, he said
"Shit, I just scratched my ticket because I thought you were!" :-)
db> I think with a few caveats, it's pretty good. Not sure it should've
db> been so expensive or taken so long, but it's pretty good.
It hasn't fully started up on this side of town, but I have reservations
about the lack of change on the trams. Murphy's Law dictates that one
never has the right change when at a vending machine (at work, I often
go to the shop downstairs, rather than the machine for munchies because
of this). I'm still thinking of the best way to fit the new system in,
when it comes in. Personally, I wonder how much study of peoples'
travelling patterns and availability of potential pre purchase outlets
was done before the machines were introduced. As it stands, it could be
an extra few minutes walking minimum for me to reach a Met ticket
outlet, enough time to miss a tram. :-(
db> Something I do want to find out about is that given the loss of
db> conductors, are the tram drivers going to do a little customer
db> assistance with regard to prams and the like. I got a 67 tram driver
db> yesterday who seemed very reluctant to get out of his seat to help with
db> my son's pram. A friendly fellow-passenger came to my aid instead.
More likely, good samaritan passengers, from my experience. :-(
... Advice void, if I'm incorrect!
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