tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post4521453861733217469..comments2024-03-11T12:46:28.806-04:00Comments on You. Me. Ride This Crazy Train - Adventures and Observations on The GO: Sit round the fire kids, it's time for another Presto card story kindly contributed by a reader of the blogC.J. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325979176373626807noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-15706045367418656502018-10-17T06:16:38.992-04:002018-10-17T06:16:38.992-04:00I believe this passenger’s experience warrants an ...I believe this passenger’s experience warrants an entry in the Presto Chronicles as Chapter 36.<br /><br />Where are these PRESTO readers at Union Station? Can anyone provide photos of their vicinity?<br /><br />I, like others, have never NOT tapped on because of time constraints, i.e. “running for the train”. I have been in conversion with fellow passengers at a station, tapped, and later standing on the platform wondered, “Did I tap?” Unlike the 2-ride and 10-ride tickets in days of yore, a PRESTO card provides no indication on your proof of payment for a trip — good luck finding a balance checker when you really need one. As for the “slew of passengers getting fined for non-payment”, no sympathy from me.<br /><br />The poor customer service cited, especially from the ticket agent, is worrisome. Senior staff have told me self-serve TVM’s with one agent providing guidance will be the new customer experience. We’re doomed.Warren Downenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-87093452693927422112018-10-16T14:37:08.542-04:002018-10-16T14:37:08.542-04:00Donna, everyone gets the chance to go back and tap...Donna, everyone gets the chance to go back and tap. People who refuse are given tickets and probably miss their train. There are people who legitimately forget because they are zombie walking so it's a good thing for them.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16899384282803901021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-14378407506232745862018-10-16T14:00:45.599-04:002018-10-16T14:00:45.599-04:00oh please! if you're late and running for the ...oh please! if you're late and running for the train, then WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?? it's your own. People need to take responsibility for their own actions. NEVER have I not tapped because I was running late. I dont know about other stations, but lately the fare checkers at Ajax are standing in the tunnel on the other side of the Presto machines and therefore you cannot go up the stairs to the track unless you pass the fare checkers. What I would like to know is if people have not tapped, do they give them a ticket or do they give them a chance to walk back 10 metres and tap their card? Donnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-19880083362417431572018-10-15T14:20:33.088-04:002018-10-15T14:20:33.088-04:00Whoops just checked the Presto website. It's b...Whoops just checked the Presto website. It's been changed to available IN 24 hours. Stupid and misleading.<br /><br />Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16899384282803901021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-81320061881815201562018-10-15T14:16:19.996-04:002018-10-15T14:16:19.996-04:00There is a valid reason for an autoload taking up ...There is a valid reason for an autoload taking up to 24 hours to show up on your card. <br />The backend database updates right away and your load is on your account as soon as the transaction is finished. Since that value is stored on your card, it has to update the card. Since Presto transactions are not real time and the system has no way of knowing where you'll tap next, each device is uploaded with that transaction amount that will be loaded onto the card. Not all machines get updated at the same time so the lesser-used devices will take longer. The ones at Union are fairly quick at updating a card. Once the amount has been loaded on the card, the backend database updates the rest of the devices so you won't get another load....<br /><br />Notice it say UP TO 24 hours. In practice it rarely takes that long.<br /><br />As for the people getting fined, take a course in time management. It takes a few seconds to tap and there are machines all over Union. You do NOT have to pick one close to the platform. There are no devices on the platforms because vandalism. When it was tried, the drunk assholes after sporting events and arena events regularly broke them by kicking, knocking over, hitting with bottles and various other methods of attempted destruction.<br /><br />When I was in Switzerland and France, there were no gates, just fare inspectors like we have here. The difference is that if you had no ticket, you paid a fare that includes a premium to the fare inspector.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16899384282803901021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6441168213084499367.post-59511694359746916722018-10-15T12:37:57.720-04:002018-10-15T12:37:57.720-04:00Well, I can answer your very last question anyway:...Well, I can answer your very last question anyway: they do pre-boarding inspection at Pearson because the whole system is so confusing that the chance of a foreign visitor figuring it out is basically zilch.<br /><br />The two different machines to tap on the UP Express also strikes me as crazy. As a computer programmer myself, I can't wrap my head around how badly designed this system must be to make this necessary.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18160376382277488872noreply@blogger.com