Thread

1. unified101 · 1791017006 · focus · HN ↗

   The actual answer is there's operational cost to handling cash, or payment methods beyond the ones that cover 99.9% people well. You pay more for the extra hassle the whole system has to serve that .1%

   You may not like or disagree with it. But it's the true answer.

   1. graemep · 1791018763 · focus · HN ↗

      There are operational issues with phones (e.g. batteries running out).

      This has nothing to do with handling cash. It is to do with the elimination of paper tickets for monthly passes. Where I live you can pay cash for one off tickets, but they refuse to sell you paper monthly tickets.

      1. KellyCriterion · 1791020071 · focus · HN ↗

         why are they so focussed on "monthyl paper tickets"? are these any different to daily paper tickets?

         1. AstroJetson · 1791021086 · focus · HN ↗

            Yes, they are good for a month and you get the monthly rate which can be much less than the daily rate. In my area the difference is about 20%

            1. graemep · 1791028427 · focus · HN ↗

               Its even greater where I live for some people. My daughter was able to get a young person's tickets last year for unlimited bus travel within the county (not sure whether it was all bus companies, or just the biggest) for £80/month whereas individual fares were more quite a lot than that each just into town and back on weekdays.

               1. compton · 1791030439 · focus · HN ↗

                  I don't think Kelly is asking for the price advantages of paying monthly.... I think they're asking why are bus companies so hot and bothered about not selling paper monthly tickets when they don't apparently object to selling paper daily tickets?

                  1. KellyCriterion · 1791039264 · focus · HN ↗

                     Exactly, thanks for clarifying!

                     Over here in Europa you get bombarded with the monthly/yearly subscription. And for companies it makes much more sense, regarding cashflow/projection etc.

                  2. graemep · 1791050042 · focus · HN ↗

                     I think the regulator might have something to do with it. They might also be less keen on selling the less profitable discounted tickets.
         2. gunalx · 1791021173 · focus · HN ↗

            Cheaper per ride over the month usually.
         3. Arnt · 1791033757 · focus · HN ↗

            Yes, they're worth more.

            A single ticket has to be printed and used in the space of a few hours. A monthly pass can be printed at any time and sold until the beginning of the month, for a much higher price. Much more risky for the transportation company.

            1. KellyCriterion · 1791039157 · focus · HN ↗

               Err how can a ticket be sold at a higher price towards the end of the month?

               Isnt it that ticket price should somehow decrease?

               1. Arnt · 1791043791 · focus · HN ↗

                  Say you have a fancy printer and can print fake monthly passes. You can print a hundred fakes today "dated" November 23, valid for December 2026, and sell them until the end of November to people who can use them in December.

                  Ie. the end of the month November, not the end of December. I suppose you could also sell the remainder at a discount in December.

                  1. graemep · 1791050228 · focus · HN ↗

                     I do not think fake tickets are a risk as monthly tickets can be numbered so you cannot just print them out. Issue a UUIS per ticket and they you go.

                     One bus company embedded the signing key for the ticket app in the app so that was not a good way of precenting fakes,

                     Much higher value train tickets are widely used in printed form and forgeries have not been a problem.

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