Smartriders

[samvara]

A subtle and saddening change since the introduction of swipe cards on public transport is the disconnect between passenger and bus driver. I tend to smile, make eye contact and say goodbye or thank you to my driver but I also have to swipe the card and want to read the display (shows ticket price, which is now calculated at the end of the journey).

The reader is cleverly positioned such that my back is almost to the driver as I get off the bus (this may be even worse for right-handed people). It slows me down slightly getting off and if I choose to swipe, read, turn, relate and then leave the bus, I’ve significantly increased the amount of time it takes to disembark. This is a problem when a lot of people are involved.

I still like the system more than having to buy Multi-riders monthly or paper tickets with loose change and it does speed up getting on the bus. I do however want a system that enhances human interaction as well.

Comments

[japester.livejournal.com]

Some buses have readers next to the driver, so you can stare into their eyes, deeply, as you wave your card over the reader, and have the joy of intercoursing with the driver, a smile, a wave, and him saying, "sorry, that one's broken, you'll have to use the other one," killing all sense of interaction you were trying to create.

Transperth. Killing positiver customer interaction since their inception. They've been learning too well from Sydney Buses.

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

I've found that even when they're broken they aren't really and that you shuld tag off even if it said you never tagged on.

[battblush.livejournal.com]

We've discovered that we're significantly better off financially buying an all-day concession ticket than a smart-rider. Lee got into a long discussion (!) with the person at the newsagency about it when he went to buy one and then with Transperth when he tried to verify the facts.

No new-age gizmos appearing in this house my friend :)

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

I haven't had a chance to check out how they handle multiple fares - I take it it's not favoured?

[battblush.livejournal.com]

One of the things I like about multi-riders is the whole family can use one, we just have to insert it multiple times. From what I understand of the smart-rider we can't do that. We all have to have one each. Very annoying when one of us doesn't take the train all that often. So far, single ticketing is our best option.

[black-samvara.livejournal.com]

Yeah I liked that about multiriders too - I gather it's very much a one person = one ride number (the smartrider, that is) and doesn't cater for family groups. Shame, what with the discounts and all.

[cricketk.livejournal.com]

I haven't found that at all.

The acknowledgement/hi/smile phase happens for me as I step on to the bus, before I swipe the card. The smile/thanks/bye/wave happens via the mirror before I swipe and step out the back door. Stepping out the front door is crazily inconvenient for driver interaction, but I've always found it that way, regardless of what sort of ticket I have, due to the clash with people getting on the bus. I have regularly travelled routes where the driver has more time and inclination for chatting (Joonders to Whitfords City at 6.30am) and I don't think the swipe card would change anything there either.

It's very slightly slower disembarking than before, but I've not noticeably lost any interaction time or quality.

I'm unco enough that I had to look at the old multirider thing to make sure I slipped the card into its slot correctly anyway.

completely OT, but LJ is the easiest way to make contact these days!

[akire-yta.livejournal.com]

hiya

are you going to swancon? If so, would you be interested in joining the judging panel for the vid comp? Just involve watching a handful of vids sometime early in the procedings and selecting the winner(s)

Interested? Can you get in touch via email at academic AT swancon DOT com? thanks