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Old Posted Apr 17, 2012, 8:03 PM
c_speed3108 c_speed3108 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eternallyme View Post
My opinion on the fare changes:

* The fares should be geo-coded? That way, the rural express fare could be charged based only on distance, not on bus route only. In that situation:

** All Rural Express routes should operate as operational extensions of Transitway routes (like the 99/245 now).
** Boarding in the morning on the Rural Express portion should require a Rural Express fare
** Once at a certain point (221 - Trim, 231 - Chapel Hill, 232 - Blair, 245 - Riverview, 283 - Bayshore), the routes convert into standard Transitway routes at regular fare.
** In the afternoon, they operate at regular fare up to that point.
** At that point, all passengers must show proof of Rural Express payment, or re-tap with the remainder paid (or topped up), to finish the route.
** In addition, the morning Inbound Rule should change so that all trips boarded within the Greenbelt - Baseline, Blair and Bayshore for most routes (not Tunney's Pasture to Hurdman) should be regular fare. Such boardings would only be permitted when someone else is alighting in most cases (a few exceptions apply). Route 69 would no longer require express fare in that case.
** In the afternoon, all boardings until the Greenbelt is crossed would still require express fare as it is too difficult to change fares midstream and the large number of buses that would need to check. (Exception: 69, which the express fare is dropped from anyway). Once beyond the Greenbelt, express routes become regular fare.

* Paper tickets should be eliminated as soon as PRESTO is available at all vendors, and until then should cost $1.35 each ($2.70 for a regular ride). They should continue to be accepted afterward until June 30, 2013 (or 6 months after the phaseout date, whichever is later).

* Encourage Algonquin College and La Cite Collegiale to implement U-Passes. There should be a way to override the system otherwise to allow all students to get student passes?

* The Seniors fare should be set at the same as the Child fare for clarity and reduction of different fare levels. However, the Wednesday free day should be removed.

* In order to avoid ID checking, would it be ideal to set a single cash fare for everyone? Although reduced pass and PRESTO fares would be available...
My two cents (which will be free once the penny is gone since it will round down to zero)

-On rural express fairs I have to agree with OC Transpo. For the small amount of riders that actually take those buses, it is better to just use a simpler fare structure. Why make everything so complex for a tiny amount of revenue. Right now a simple question like how much does it cost to take the bus requires a hugely complex answer. Makes things less attractive to new riders. Just make rural express, express and leave it at that.

-I have no opinion on the inbound, outbound rules as I would have consider the implications of that. Really much of this is only until LRT anyway...

-I agree with you 100% on paper tickets. Why bother once Presto is here. All keeping them is creating is a bunch of headlines about how much the price has gone up.

-I agree with you on U-Pass (although we would probably have to name it the Edu-pass or something)

-Senior and child fares the same is a good idea.

-I agree with the single cash fare. If people want discounts they should buy passes or "tickets" (by tickets I mean Presto). Also helps to discourage cash fares.
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