Was on my usual bus this morning, full of commuters and college students, which normally gets to the station with just enough time to get my train to Bern. So it is this morning that the bloody inspectors decide to check everyone's ticket as they're getting off at my stop, creating a log-jam on the bus as everyone fumbles to find their ticket/pass/phone/excuse etc. Had to be somewhat rude and push my way past a whole bunch of people to show my GA, mumbling something like "sorry my train is in 2 minutes" etc etc.
I can understand checking tickets, but not on that bus at that stop next time please.
There, feel better now.
Thinking about it, I was in plenty of time actually, but anyway, you know, whatever.
One lovely tick I've discovered in the mobile app after updating my phone, is that I can no longer access the menu - it just hangs on a white screen. So, I can happily purchase tickets, but have no way to access them ever again. That makes for great conversations with the inspectors who apparently only understand QR code, and not the stupid receipt that the useless app emails to you as "backup".
Still doesn't stop being travelling without a ticket - unless you have to badge in when you get on a bus - and how does that work when you have 20 people getting on the bus??
You will get fare dodgers on all public transport systems - there is no way round a 100% full proof method - especially for buses.
Well, I actually like the fact that I'm trusted to have a valid ticket. I can hop on and off whenever and wherever I like without having to show my ticket to anybody unless asked for in one of the very rare times that I come across a ticket inspector.
It's not like England where you're assumed not to have a ticket until you produce it, and therefore ending up having to run a gauntlet of various barriers and inspectors etc. For example the train station of my home town has become more locked down than than your average military base. First you have to get through the ticket barriers, then before you can even get to the train platform you have to show you ticket to an inspector, then finally you have to show your ticket to another inspector on the train.
Unless you travel on a real train and then you will have to show it EVERY single time...and I don't mean show it when you enter or when you leave...nooo, you have to show it in the middle of whatever you were doing and this is a real PITA. It would be so much easier to just have chipcards and entry gates.
Which is really what you need to do on buses here anyway, if you're traveling in the evening.
Honestly, I feel much more harassed and less trusted by having inspectors come through half way than I would by actually using modern technology. And no, qr codes don't count as modern.
I was really annoyed a few weeks ago, when in the tram the inspectors had their check. I was a bit unprepared and having a big bag I asked him to hold for a moment while I was looking for it (knowing it was in the bag). He didn't want to wait 2 secs at all, but wanted me to get out of the tram (!!) JEEE seriously wanted to throw me out before even giving me a chance to look for it??!! I refused to step out obvoiusly and did find it after 30 sec! But really, so annoying that they want to throw as they have decided that you don't have a valid ticket just because I was fumbling around in my bag. Gah!
I think this decision by the ticket dude is based on experience. Loads of people look in their bags or wallets for the ticket that doesn't exist (or the halbtax that they don't really have to go with their half-price ticket) and then say oh, I lost it or whatever. Just have it in a handy pocket next time so you don't have to deal with the grumps.
I mostly agree. However, I understand that the used to be a lot of fare dodging on the bendy buses, where you could get on at the central access door. It has also crashed a few times.
I got an id check at Chiasso train station on my way to a business appointment in Novazzano. That ID check cost me 3 mins which coupled with the train being late 2 mins made me lose my bus. The taxi driver was nice and gave me 2 CHF discount.. but it still cost me 20 CHF!
What did I learn? Just-in-time is over optimization, even in Switzerland.
A joke on the side: "Being black don't help at the borders. Being brown is only a shade better!"
Any chipcard system will still have teams performing random spot checks which is the case in London.
Having to queue up to show or buy a ticket from a bus driver is always slow and annoying. It's one of the great advantages of the Zürich city buses that they don't require this.
I think the system here is pretty good and balances convenience and ease of use while ensuring the transport companies are paid. Anything more hi-tec would likely be more expensive to install and maintain and wouldn't necessarily provide a better service to the customers.
the number 13 bendy bus from westminster was great when i had to drag my drunk buddies sorry ass onto it after a night out in town! no way would the driver have let us on! i needed a body bag, glad it had mulitple doors!
Hong kong have a great system where they let you on the tram with one way turnstiles but u cant get off until you've paid with your octopus card and activated the exit turnstiles.
I'm not sure a revamp of the Swiss public transport network is necessary, and I can hardly see the relevant authorities agreeing to invest in an entirely different infrastructure. The system works pretty well as is; I just wish they'd chosen a different stop to check tickets.