by dcipjr
I wonder if the delay is related to how long it takes for conductors to verify the Key card passes onboard. Every time I see a conductor use their reader, it takes forever. They'd never be able to scan the cards of everyone onboard.
One conductor I've talked to said that the Key on the RRD is probably going to have to be on the "honor system"—really? After installing faregates, and spending Lord-knows-how-much paying fare ambassadors to punch tickets, we're going to do the honor system with spot checks after all?
Another head-scratcher: tapping-out. Who's going to want to crowd around the three or so readers on the platform once you deboard, especially if it's raining out?
At my station, Bethayres, if I got off towards the rear of the train, I'd have to walk halfway up the platform to get to the nearest reader, get in line to tag out, and then walk back to my car. I don't think people are going to like that much.
SEPTA's approach with the Key on the Regional Rail seems to have been "How can we come up with a smart card that's compatible with our current fare system", rather than "How can we make a better fare system that uses a smart card?"—make 1234 happy, not the riders.
Now they have something that they're realizing is not gonna scale, and they're stuck.
One conductor I've talked to said that the Key on the RRD is probably going to have to be on the "honor system"—really? After installing faregates, and spending Lord-knows-how-much paying fare ambassadors to punch tickets, we're going to do the honor system with spot checks after all?
Another head-scratcher: tapping-out. Who's going to want to crowd around the three or so readers on the platform once you deboard, especially if it's raining out?
At my station, Bethayres, if I got off towards the rear of the train, I'd have to walk halfway up the platform to get to the nearest reader, get in line to tag out, and then walk back to my car. I don't think people are going to like that much.
SEPTA's approach with the Key on the Regional Rail seems to have been "How can we come up with a smart card that's compatible with our current fare system", rather than "How can we make a better fare system that uses a smart card?"—make 1234 happy, not the riders.
Now they have something that they're realizing is not gonna scale, and they're stuck.