so there's a really good series in the TO Star this week on the GTA's public transportation .. anyways, I copied a small excerpt below..

quote:

SWIPE AND GO Fumbling for change or tokens is a thing of the past for millions of transit riders around the world. Instead, they pull out their smartcard – with names like Oyster in London and Suica and Pasmo in Tokyo – and pass them over scanners to get in or out of stations or onto buses or trams. The cards work like phone cards, where you can top up the card's balance as needed. Some cards can be used to buy coffee or a chocolate bar within the transit system. Some go further, allowing purchases at fast-food restaurants, supermarkets and drug stores. In Hong Kong, where 16 million Octopus cards circulate, the system handles 10 million transactions a day. The card can even be used in neighbouring Macau and Shenzhen, which have different currencies. It can also act as a security access card for offices and residential complexes, thanks to the unique ID number on each card, which can be programmed into a central security system. Some schools are even adapting the card to allow children to check out library books. In Japan, cellphones equipped with with integrated circuit technology can be swiped through a station reader to pay transit fares. Transit systems from Houston to Lisbon to Tehran are also adopting smartcards. But Asian countries are probably ahead in imagining the potential. Researchers are looking at building a standardized system that could allow travelers to use the same card in Bangkok, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur. - Vanessa Lu

source:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/414977


and Toronto ......................... ? I remember the last time the token machine said "Out of Order" at Sheppard... if you didn't have a metropass you had to walk a city block to get to the north entrance into the station where the unionized ticket collector that sits there all day was heh .. ps. in other news we may learn of a TTC strike by tomorrow..

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21748.aspx

wheee! doesn't it just make your blood boil

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they have been using this in hong kong for many years now aka. octopus card. you dont even have to swipe it. most people keep the card in their wallet and hold their wallet up to the reader until it beeps (kinda like the quick pay keychain things that gas stations have).

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3...ng/IMG_0043.jpg

i could use the metro (subway), bus, mini bus, public parking, 7-11, mcdonalds and many other places with the octopus card.

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quote:

Originally posted by chinamon they have been using this in hong kong for many years now aka. octopus card. you dont even have to swipe it. most people keep the card in their wallet and hold their wallet up to the reader until it beeps (kinda like the quick pay keychain things that gas stations have). http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3...ng/IMG_0043.jpg i could use the metro (subway), bus, mini bus, public parking, 7-11, mcdonalds and many other places with the octopus card.

They're doing that with Td Visa/Debit cards too. Even with cell phones now too although I've yet to see that here.

As for transit, c'mon TO/Ttc get your freakin act together.

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http://www.prestocard.ca/en/

quote:

The Government of Ontario along with GO Transit and eight municipal transit partners introduce… Presto A smart little card that does very big things. From Oshawa to Hamilton — a single way to pay your public transit fare.* No more searching for exact change. No more pockets full of different types of tickets, passes or transfers. Presto is the size of most other plastic cards but it uses smart card technology. Simply tap your card on the reader on the bus or at the station. In a split second, the system deducts the lowest fare from the remaining balance on your card, and you’re on your way.

quote:

Where can I use Presto? By 2010, Presto will be the way to go on these transit systems: GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway Company, Mississauga Transit, Oakville Transit, five key TTC subway stations and York Region Transit. * Municipal transit systems will use the Presto card for fare payment on their bus services (except the TTC). GO Transit will use the card for fare payment on the GO Train and GO Bus. * If your transit trip includes entering the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway at Union, Finch, Downsview, Don Mills, or Islington stations, you will be able to use your fare card for your subway ride. These five stations will have some turnstiles equipped with the fare card reader. For all other TTC trips, regular TTC fare media (such as tokens) will be required. The TTC continues to evaluate how they might further implement the fare system beyond the five stations after 2010. * You will also use your Presto card to transfer easily between participating transit systems.

What a joke. It doesn't even tell you where you can currently use it. And they only plan to implement it in FIVE ttc stations.

quote:

Originally posted by Orko http://www.prestocard.ca/en/ What a joke. It doesn't even tell you where you can currently use it. And they only plan to implement it in FIVE ttc stations.

Yeh, but it's better than nothing, and they're implimenting it between a lot of the municipal transit companies. They still need to work harder and not be so retarded with it and limit it so much.

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quote:

Originally posted by Endlesswave Yeh, but it's better than nothing, and they're implimenting it between a lot of the municipal transit companies. They still need to work harder and not be so retarded with it and limit it so much.

+1

Just give them some time to figure it out, but eventually we'll be there.

Yes, we are definitely behind the times in the 'change'less system, but we will get there eventually.

Currently Presto can also be used on the GO Train as well on the Milton line. They are still in the testing phases but hopefully they'll get there act together and completely implement it.

quote:

Originally posted by exstasie +1 Just give them some time to figure it out, but eventually we'll be there. Yes, we are definitely behind the times in the 'change'less system, but we will get there eventually. Currently Presto can also be used on the GO Train as well on the Milton line. They are still in the testing phases but hopefully they'll get there act together and completely implement it.

i hope it goes a little faster than their subway line extension .. the Environmental Assessment on the Spadina Extension started in 1994.. that was 14 years ago and a shovel hasn't even been put into the ground yet. Even if they do meet their optimistic end date of 2012, that would have been 26 years to build another what, 4 stations?

I think the Presto card was announced back in 2003 with a 2010 end date. That's 7 years for 5 stations lol ..

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Palm Trees > Pine Trees , Sand > Snow

things in toronto tend to take a long to do to.

ie: Toronto Life Square (aka Metropolis) took over 10 years to build.

and it doesn't look like things will change. even today, we get people like Adam Giambrone saying that the TTC will only be considering a Downtown Relief Line in 2018.

so yeh, things to get dragged out and when something does happen quickly, we think it's a miracle.

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quote:

Originally posted by smuncky things in toronto tend to take a long to do to. ie: Toronto Life Square (aka Metropolis) took over 10 years to build. and it doesn't look like things will change. even today, we get people like Adam Giambrone saying that the TTC will only be considering a Downtown Relief Line in 2018. so yeh, things to get dragged out and when something does happen quickly, we think it's a miracle.

For sure. That is ridiculous. Damned beauracracy.

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well, what do you expect with a union hellbent on bringing its employer to its knees every few years? coupled with a lack of government funding how do you expect the ttc to expand? privatize the damn thing and lets get shit done already!!

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lol a bit unfair to compare London & Hong Kong with Toronto?

I remember a stat that the city of London makes 1 million (sterling) a day in profit from the tube alone.

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I read somewhere that the only 2 Subways in the world to turn a profit are Tokyo's and NYC's...and that's because they're 2 of the most used systems in the world.

edit: changed to 2 of the most...cause I think Moscow, Mexico City, and Seoul round off the top 5.

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Last edited by Stilez on Apr-17-2008 at 00:41