Re: Metcard Concession Checks

[David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au>]

Roderick Smith wrote:

> The current flashing lights for concession-card ticket presentation is an
> update of an older manual system: periodical tickets were endorsed M or F
> to show the gender of the holder, to prevent some fraudulent use.  In the
> 90s, sexism is out, but agism is ok.

Nothing to do with age.  It is an indicator of whether the ticket being
presented is a concession ticket or not.  This includes child, student and
pensioner tickets.  If a businessman walks through the gate and the light comes
on, there is a high chance that he is evading paying the full adult fare.  As
for the old M/F system, what is wrong with that?  The tickets were
NON-TRANSFERRABLE.  If the ticket was bought by a man who worked in the city, he
is not permitted to give it to his wife on the weekend.

--
David Johnson
CityRail Guard
trainman@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~trainman/