LAist: Metro Approves Gates, Integrates with TAP

jclin829

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:41:15 -0800

It is non-sense to save money in theory without considering saving resource on hiring petrol. 1. It is ridiculous to call TAP machine a gate since it doesn't have any fence to block out sneaker. 2. Removing fare petrol meaning encouraging more sneakers and free riders. 3. If TAP system means a new way to pay the fare, it would be same if they don't implement it - same without it - just a new way to pay and not to pay. 4. This can mean more fare hike since more people can get free ride without paying (maybe it really depends on situation but this logic should be true). They better work on math. They better add fence and allow people to pass if they pay like system in Taiwan. Check it out. Their transit is much more advance - zero tolerance.

fredcamino

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:34:19 -0800

Oops... I knew it was sarcasm but I thought it was sarcasm in the other way... maybe?

Lindsay William-Ross

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:39:13 -0800

Fred: Sarcasm!

fredcamino

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:17:20 -0800

I put the HTML in wrong for the TAP article, try this link, instead.

Zach Behrens

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:46:06 -0800

Good point Fred! When I first learned how TAP worked awhile ago, I didn't know how it would work without gates, just didn't make sense. Now we know:)

fredcamino

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:38:53 -0800

"So we've been losing $5.5 million a year for how many years? Like, hey, no big deal, right? HA!" Here's the thing Lindsay. Metro"loses" a lot more that $5.5 million a year just by existing. Every rider, whether they paid or not steals from 60% to 100% of the cost of the ride. Here's some links to previous MetroRiderLA opinions on fare gates: >> Deconstructing Fare Gates >> The Fare Gates Are Coming >> Metro Reconsiders Proof of Payment >> The TAP Card Untapped The last one is about the TAP card, the new way to pay fares on Metro, and the real reason I believe we are moving to fare gates. Anyone who has used TAP will quickly realize they are useless on the rail lines without gates. That a large portion of the Metro Press Release talked about TAP sort of confirms this. I think Metro designed TAP without much forsight and then dug themselves into a hole that only $68 million fare gates could get them out of.

pinoy

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:45:38 -0800

The TAP machine does remind me of the Oyster tap machine at the London Underground System, when I went there this past fall. I need to start going Metro next month, especially with this ever increasing gas prices.

jrb

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:37:52 -0800

I dunno, when I had a GF in Long Beach years ago, I rode Blueline all the way from downtown to Willow Station every Saturday for a while. I could count on having my fare checked at least once each way. I saw people get citations. To me this seems like the most effective way to catch fare evaders. The possiblility of getting a $250 citation trying to evade a $1.25 fare seemed silly enough for me to never try it. I think they should go back to stepped up enforcement.

Lindsay William-Ross

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:08:28 -0800

So we've been losing $5.5 million a year for how many years? Like, hey, no big deal, right? HA! It is about damn time they invested in these barriers to regulate fare payment, and also to activate the TAP system. I can't even read the line: "Metro remains the only subway operator in the country to operate a barrier-free system" without smacking my forehead a la Homer Simpson and saying "D'oh!" I mean, seriously, Metro... what tipped you off that the "honor" system wasn't the way to go?

tristen

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:52:47 -0800

About fucking time!! Seriously I can finally ride the subway in peace and not have some annoying homeless person bug me for change while talking to himself or should I say mumble to himself. I never understood the city of LA's trust policy about riding the metro.

Zach Behrens

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:06:37 -0800

They are building machines that zap those who jump into dust like in Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds.'

jrb

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:53:39 -0800

OK, so now a fare evader will simply jump over the gate to avoid paying, and because of the elimination of fare inspectors, won't even have to worry about the threat of receiveing a citation? Who thinks this stuff up?