As TransLink moves forward in it’s goal of upgrading the fare system on trains and buses, there’s a few sides to the switch from the existing fare media to smart cards.

Upsides

• Cash is becoming a thing of the past as many Canadians are using their debit and credit cards over traditional coins and bills. Instead of struggling to find the right amount of change when getting on the bus, the smart card allows pre-payment to save time and worry.
• Many Vancouverites have experienced the delays during major events when taking transit. Remember waiting in line at the Stadium-Chinatown station trying to get a ticket before Rogers Arena empties out after a game? Not with the smart card! Pre-loaded and ready to go, the smart card will let you bypass the lines at the ticket vending machines and head right for the platform.
• Fare evasion is cut down. With turnstiles at station entrances, it becomes more difficult to sneak aboard without paying and allows the transit system to maintain a steady flow of income.

Downsides

• The smart card is like cash. If you lose it, it’s gone unless there’s a plan in place to recover funds when the card is reported as lost or stolen. However, such a feature would only be of benefit if someone hasn’t already found it and taken a few trips.
• TransLink’s current fare structure allows the existing fare media valid for 90 minutes from purchase. In that time, you can take SkyTrain and a few buses without having to pay for each ride. Unless TransLink uses some sort of method to track the 90 minutes from when the card was first swiped to any subsequent detections at stations or on a bus.

Of course, there are many other aspects and views on changing the fare system. Indifferent to the change? Think it will make the trip easier? What’s your take on upgrading to the new fare media?

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