bikentransit wrote:How long is SEPTA expected to keep their legacy fare system in place?
I doubt anyone’s saying that the old system should be kept, any more than there are serious defenders of DOS, 78s, or carburetors. The problem is that the Key takes away existing options and flexibility that COULD and SHOULD have been brought forward.
Tokens are slowly disappearing, so the only ones who would need transfers are those paying cash fare.
See below.
Will it be that difficult for infrequent riders to get a key card
NBD in urban areas and the denser 'burbs, a lot less likely in more spread-out parts of SEPTA's coverage area.
and if they don't ride that frequently, is the fare really that much of a deterrent?
If your fare doubles, quite possibly. Think of a family who might want to make a trip by SEPTA. They now either have to buy a set of $9.95 Keys which will have extra funds they may or may not use later, or pay nearly double in cash versus what they did before. If e.g. you have 3 kids the increment could be around 20 bucks which might make some people opt to drive instead. In addition they only get the $4.95 card fee back if they register the cards - again, nothing special for regular riders but an extra hoop for infrequent users that could also leave them with unused funds.
Is there any likelihood that SEPTA could be persuaded to do away with transfers period?
There’s a movement underway to do exactly that, like most other systems did years ago, but from what I’ve read it’s not likely anytime soon. Getting rid of transfer charges so a fare pays for a ride from A to B instead of paying for a single boarding would make the fare system much more equitable because a trip's cost would no longer depend on the number of vehicles needed. It would also encourage more efficient use of resources by shifting riders off buses that parallel the subway and el. Optimally, of course, fares could be eventually be distance-based as well.
That said, even if transfer charges are eliminated there’s still the issue of providing some option for short-term riders that doesn’t involve buying more trips than needed and/or having to register a card to get a credit they may never use. There doesn’t seem to be anything definite about offering anything like the old Independence Pass or multi-day options like those available in e.g. DC or London.
Requiem for it's/its, your/you're, than/then, less/fewer. They were once such nice words with such different meanings...