For people who have trouble planning ahead — i.e. me — scrounging up exact change for bus fare is a nightmare. There’ve been a couple mornings when I’ve driven to school simply cuz of the change issue. I only had a twenty in the wallet, without enough time to go buy something somewhere to get change for the bus — so I drove.
Yes, I know I should plan better. And I know that I could just get a monthly pass — but the thing is, because school’s served by the MTA system, while home is served by the Big Blue Bus — I used the systems equally. Buying monthly passes for both — which would mean $100+, is just not a sound financial decision, since I ride 20x a month on average.
But today I read the good news that the MTA’s getting new Transit Access Pass (TAP) cards, which should get rid of the change issue altogether!
The cards are still in testing. Right now, only MTA employees, 50 volunteers, and 1,000 UCLA people have ‘em. In the next few months, some businesses are supposed to get these cards —
Unfortunately, the LA Times article had no deets as to when the regular bus rider’ll be able to start using these….
The infrastructure’s going in though — all Metro buses now have computerized fare boxes, and subway / light-rail stations have card vaildators, and the bus systems in Culver City, Santa Clarita and Torrance will start testing card readers soon.
It’s all supposed to be up and running in within 2 years, at which point 11 regional bus agencies will be using TAP, with TAP fare boxes will be installed in buses in LA, Long Beach, Norwalk, Montebello, Gardena, the Antelope Valley and the Foothill area.
A little unfortunately for me, Santa Monica’s never mentioned in the LA Times article. Does this mean that the Big Blue Bus isn’t gonna participate? Hmmm… Will have to investigate…
There is a pass that’s currently being sold where you can use it on any L.A. County transit system, including Metro and the Big Blue Bus. It’s called the EZ Pass, and it’s $58/month. More information here: http://www.mta.net/riding_metro/riders_guide/paying_fare-07.htm
Comment by Alan — December 28, 2006 @ 9:32 pm
Thanks Alan! I think someone told me about this a while back, but it totally slipped my mind. Unfortunately, $58’s still more than the cost of 20 rides — but this pass sounds like an excellent option for daily commuters working with multiple bus systems.
Comment by Siel — December 29, 2006 @ 11:22 pm
In Hong Kong one can buy a smart pass that can be used on the subway, the bus, the ferry, 7-11, and at another convenience store called Watson’s.
Why can’t we tell Metro & the other busliness/rapid transit lines we want the smart pass right away. If they have put in the machinery for it, why don’t they release it soon?
Comment by Julia — December 30, 2006 @ 8:12 am
An answer for Julia:
The smart pass equipment is installed and active only on Metro at the moment. In fact, Metro is still working out some minor issues with the current TAP cards issued to employees/dependents/officials and UCLA students. I am told that Culver City and Torrance are due to come online sometime this summer; they are not yet tied into the computer system that actually manages the accounting.
In short, smart cards are not something you simply install the equipment for today and start using tomorrow.
Comment by Kymberleigh Richards — January 20, 2007 @ 8:05 pm