flynnt wrote:whovian wrote: I would say approxiametly 10-15% of the total boardings between the 3 major Center City stations discharge within Center City stops. I see it first hand every day. Most do not have a trail pass, and there are more arguments than you think when conductors attempt to collect a fare from Market East to Suburban Station.
I'll buy that 10-15% of people get on and off within center city, but are you sure they don't have trailpasses or transpasses? We could assume one way or the other, but you can't know unless you stop people and ask. 10-15% is a ridiculous number. But if that's what it is, that's what it is. Of course, if it is even 5%, that is thousands of dollars of missed revenue per day.
Try to Ride the Market-Frankford El for one stop for free? It costs $2.00 cash fare to go one stop, no matter the distance on any city division SEPTA vehicle.
Of course. But who are these people who are beating the system for a couple of dollars each day? People who drive to/from work(and dont have passes) but need to get across center city during the course of the day? People who use one token on the way to/from work and use this "trick" to get out of buying more tokens/buying a pass when they need to get across center city?
When I had a trailpass and needed to get around center city, it NEVER occurred to me to take the train. Taking a bus or subway or trolley was always more convenient. Thus, I would assume some of these people are walking by more convenient blue line/green line/bus stops to get their free rides. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths people will go to save a few dollars. The fact that it is a "trick" that not everyone knows of might make it even more inviting to some.
A hasty and inaccurate assessment. Given what your interests are, farebeating, I should not be suprised. 10-15% is a
generous figure, especially midday. I see it all the time Flynnt. Most of the folks that travel between Center City stops think it is
free. Ones that have passes normally show them to the conductor upon boarding on their own accord. Some have Amtrak tickets, which are valid in Center City to/from 30th Station. I'm on the railroad 5-6 days a week, and I frequently have lots of people come up to me at Suburban Station asking me if we stop at Market East or 30th Street; and when I inform them that we do make those stops, they go down to the conductor and turn away from our train when he attempts to get a $3.50 fare from them.
There is no such thing as a free ride, sir. For those who use a token, I'm assuming on a city division vehicle, to go into Center City for work, then subsequently decide to hop on the RRD for FREE for whatever reason they have, whether it is lunch or leisure, is absurd. There is a farely widespread misconception that because conductors don't typically
delay trains in Center City proper for collecting fares on the platform that the ride is a free one. I've heard countless people say, "but I'm going to the next stop." Does anyone say that when there going from 13th street to 15th street on the El? Does anyone assume that because they are going the next stop on the El that it is free? Why would one think that it would be free on the Regional Rail to ride one or two stops in Center City when that is not the case with the El or the Broad street sub? The Regional Rail has the highest fare structure on the SEPTA system.
I'm sure if those folks from the state took a survey of how many people board/discharge within Center City stations without paying, or being approached for a fare, there would be some changes made, especially wiht SEPTA claiming financial problems.