Buses in and around Bristol - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Bmblbzzz]

I didn't know Bristol even had tap in, tap out. I see it was introduced on 17 July. As the last time I took a bus was in February, I presume that means July this year – but maybe not!
https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/tickets/new-tickets-more-choice/tap-tap

Shame it doesn't work for three-stop hops. As the WsM and WoE fares differ by distance or zone, it seems the system does know where you're tapping in and out, so is there a reason for excluding the three-stop hop?

[Red Squirrel]

Yes, July 2022. I've used it and it worked OK. Slightly oddly, it seems to charge you an initial 10p and then sort out the true fare later.

It does seem odd that it can't work out that you've done a 3-stop hop, though I presume they have their reasons... also it doesn't cater for children or young adults.

[Bmblbzzz]

I can understand that it can't differentiate between children and adults, as it doesn't know who's holding the card. The bank presumably knows the age of the card's owner but probably won't divulge it to third parties and in any case can't confirm that a card registered to Mr R. Squirrel was not actually being used by Master Kit Squirrel, or vice versa.

[Bmblbzzz]

It does seem odd that it can't work out that you've done a 3-stop hop, though I presume they have their reasons...

Borrowing an extremely cynical hat from other parts of the forum: people who know the system and know where they're going will ask the driver for a 3-stop hop. Others will be content to suck up the 90p for the convenience of tapping in and out. People making irregular short trips are less likely to hit the £5.30 daily cap, so the effective average price per user is raised.

[Red Squirrel]

I can understand that it can't differentiate between children and adults, as it doesn't know who's holding the card. The bank presumably knows the age of the card's owner but probably won't divulge it to third parties and in any case can't confirm that a card registered to Mr R. Squirrel was not actually being used by Master Kit Squirrel, or vice versa.

Yes; First would have to set up a system where users registered a card and then declared themself to be a student, child or other concession. Which is sort of what TfL^» (Transport for London - about) do, isn't it? I can see that First may not want the added complication of this, but I wonder if the benefits of making buses easier for young people to use (and maybe gaining lifelong passengers) might outweigh these costs?

[Bmblbzzz]

I thought TfL^» (Transport for London - about) simply didn't charge children? Maybe it's changed, haven't been to London for a while.

[infoman]

15 August at midday,about planned cuts to bus services.

[TonyK]

And after years of saying what a good idea tap-in-tap-out would be for Bristol, it has finally arrived, but I won't be using it. My days of paying for bus travel are behind me, and I now refuse to out before 9.30.

[bobm]

Refuse to go out or just not up by 9.30? 

[infoman]

If your in Cornwall,bus pass's are valid from first thing in the morning 24/7

[TonyK]

If your in Cornwall,bus pass's are valid from first thing in the morning 24/7

Sadly, not in Devon yet, and won't be if I visit Bristol. Plus, you still need a bus.

[Ralph Ayres]

I can understand that it can't differentiate between children and adults, as it doesn't know who's holding the card. The bank presumably knows the age of the card's owner but probably won't divulge it to third parties and in any case can't confirm that a card registered to Mr R. Squirrel was not actually being used by Master Kit Squirrel, or vice versa.

Yes; First would have to set up a system where users registered a card and then declared themself to be a student, child or other concession. Which is sort of what TfL^» (Transport for London - about) do, isn't it? I can see that First may not want the added complication of this, but I wonder if the benefits of making buses easier for young people to use (and maybe gaining lifelong passengers) might outweigh these costs?

TfL don't do discounts on bank card travel, only on Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services). For security and data protection the processing that works out what fares to charge for a day or week's travel on a bank card (or phone etc) is kept entirely separate from the bit that is eventually told to bill the passenger's bank account for that travel.  The fare bit deliberately has no way of knowing who the person is and so can't charge for a child or for having a Railcard.  They're working towards possibly doing something to link the two in a secure way but there may well end up being just too many hoops to jump through.  Rather more likely is some form of virtual card on a phone, holding any discount entitlement, that could then be linked to a bank account for billing.

[TonyK]

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) don't do discounts on bank card travel, only on Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services).

I think they do - try looking at the TfL fare finder. I chose randomly, picking Euston station to liverpool Street station. An adult single fare is £6.30 cash, but "only" £2.50 by Oyster OR contactless card.

[Alan Pettitt]

I think the Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) discounts referred to are things like adding a railcard to your Oyster for the discount.

[Ralph Ayres]

I think the Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) discounts referred to are things like adding a railcard to your Oyster for the discount.

Correct. If you select any discount on the TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Single fare finder it labels the result only as Oyster, whereas a full adult also shows Contactless.