(no subject)

[randomness]

My friend Lisa Weber of Better Mass Transit, a public advocacy group here in Boston, has asked me to share her two-question survey about one aspect of the MBTA's new fare collection system.

Here's her post:

"Friends who take the T. They've started switching to their new payment system which eliminates cash payments on board, but will allow you to pay with a smartphone, fare media card, or contactless credit card. You'll still be able to pay cash at fare vending machines to buy the fare media cards before boarding.

"They have announced their plan to charge a $5 mandatory overdraft protection fee for each kind of payment (each new fare card, smartphone app, credit card).

"Would you please take this two-question survey to share your opinion about the required $5 fee. Feel free to share it with anyone who takes the T. I'm happy to answer any questions."

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VMV3BF6

Comments

[randomness]

So, part of the new system is that they will be rolling out vending machines in many new places. One of my earlier posts includes a link to the T's suggestion page, which has a GIS map on which one can suggest locations for new ticket vending machines.

That post is here:
https://randomness.dreamwidth.org/644384.html

I encourage everyone to make suggestions for vending machine locations. It can't hurt.

Also they plan to sign up many more third-party vendors like convenience stores.

[bikergeek]

I took a look at the map. The existing suggestions for AFC locations in my neighborhood are pretty good. I clicked "Like" on the ones I'd be likely to use.

I do hope the T looks at some of the machines that are in use elsewhere in the world. The MBTA unfortunately suffers from a bad case of "Not Invented Here", and tends to order up expensive custom solutions for things that are solved problems elsewhere. (Like the fare gates that are in current use on the T, which are a custom design.)

[randomness]

Or the fareboxes on buses, which require coins to be dropped in one at a time.