Thread

Why should I have to pay more for buses if I don't use a smartphone?

65 points · 89 comments · DamonHD

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. smitty1e · 1791056113 · focus · HN ↗
  A non-networked, physical system is not an "extra hassle".
  It is a sensible fallback plan to keep the system functioning when the Magic Wand, inevitably, has its failure moment.
  Affording users of public services a modicum of choice to avoid the Magic Wand is an important side effect.

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