You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[CroFlames]

The "why" is pretty obvious ain't it?

They want people like you to buy tickets, not use them, then have to buy more.

[GirlySports]

IT'S A SCAM.

I'm still using physical tickets from 2020

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://www.ky3.com/2022/10/05/hallo...er-complaints/

Relevant to the Halloween discussion.

Weird arguments:

Possibly angered by the crowds and the popularity of the display, that one neighbor has accused them of bringing negative attention to the neighborhood, endangering the community’s children and making the neighborhood the target of possible home invasions because of all the spectators, the family said.

I'm sure crowds would be a bit annoying, but I'd feel far safer from a home invasion (what a country) if my block was really buys.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Can someone explain to me why tickets purchased on the calgary transit app expire? I just installed this thing and figured, "well, I'll load it up with tickets, no worries, I usually buy a couple of books". And then I see the ####ing things expire in a week. Why? What the actual #### is the point of that? There's absolutely no need for them to ever expire - just like the paper ticket books you can buy.

What a scam. I mean it's just going to be like 12 bucks or whatever but that's still incredibly stupid.

The extra kick in the nuts is that if you activate a ticket that is going to expire in the next minute, the ticket doesn't have a 90 minute life like a normal ticket (it will still expire the next minute).

Logistically frustrating if you typically buy tickets before you would use it, as the one you buy for future use will expire right before you need it.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Can someone explain to me why tickets purchased on the calgary transit app expire? I just installed this thing and figured, "well, I'll load it up with tickets, no worries, I usually buy a couple of books". And then I see the ####ing things expire in a week. Why? What the actual #### is the point of that? There's absolutely no need for them to ever expire - just like the paper ticket books you can buy.

What a scam. I mean it's just going to be like 12 bucks or whatever but that's still incredibly stupid.

I think the concern is that you never activate the ticket and just wait for enforcement.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by GGG

I think the concern is that you never activate the ticket and just wait for enforcement.

I'm confused about how that's any different from paper tickets? Or why you couldn't just have one ticket on your phone at all times that basically becomes a $3.60 weekly ticket if you were willing to pursue that strategy.

In other words, I don't see how this helps. I guess it ensures that they're getting at least $3.60 per week from people who are trying to defraud the transit system?

Also, I assume you're only referring to people exclusively using C-Trains. If you're taking a bus you still have to scan the thing when you get on next to the driver.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by GGG

I think the concern is that you never activate the ticket and just wait for enforcement.

Can’t be this. They confirm the activation time. At least when I have had my ticket checked they did.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Can’t be this. They confirm the activation time. At least when I have had my ticket checked they did.

If you can keep them in your phone indefinitely then you only activate when you see transit checking tickets. You could do it while on the train. That’s why they expire.

But with a physical ticket you need to get it validated before you get on. You can’t just pull the ticket out of your pocket and turn it on when you see ticket checkers.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

If you can keep them in your phone indefinitely then you only activate when you see transit checking tickets. You could do it while on the train. That’s why they expire.

But with a physical ticket you need to get it validated before you get on. You can’t just pull the ticket out of your pocket and turn it on when you see ticket checkers.

But that's what Weitz is saying; the ticket checkers see the activation time on the digital ticket. It's a bit of a red flag if the activation time was only 30 seconds ago...

[Slava]

Originally Posted by you&me

But that's what Weitz is saying; the ticket checkers see the activation time on the digital ticket. It's a bit of a red flag if the activation time was only 30 seconds ago...

Is it really though? You have a ticket and paid the fare. I'd fight that for sure.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by you&me

But that's what Weitz is saying; the ticket checkers see the activation time on the digital ticket. It's a bit of a red flag if the activation time was only 30 seconds ago...

Even that has issues with it. Prove that I didn’t get on at the last stop. And maybe I activated my ticket a few seconds late because I was in a hurry to board a departing train.

Or maybe there’s a limitation to the app. But it seems logical that there’s a reason they expire due to enforcement. I’m not ruling out money grab but transit never makes it’s money back so what would be the point? Screwing people who use the app seems unlikely.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It would actually be really easy to prove what stop you got on if you fought the ticket in court; they have cameras everywhere.

That's beside the point though. If that activating the ticket only when I saw ticket checkers was my strategy, how does making the ticket expire in 7 days really help prevent it? I can still do exactly the same thing as you're suggesting, except now I'm buying one fresh ticket per week instead of one fresh ticket every time I see transit checking tickets. It doesn't seem like it solves the problem.

[Macman]

Can you not also get the paper tickets mailed to you if you buy them online, I think I’ve seen that option for the monthly pass. I suppose that defeats the purpose of having electronic tickets and maybe you’re better off getting the monthly pass if you use them regularly. But if you’re only using transit a week or two per month that’s what they’re good for.

I think another issue is if you’re using the train, they don’t check that often. I think I’ve been asked once in the last year.

I can’t believe the long lines at the end or start of the month to buy passes especially since everyone has a phone now. You have to create an account through the transit/city website first and then link to the app but once it’s set up it works fine. You still have to log in to purchase though.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Can someone explain to me why tickets purchased on the calgary transit app expire? I just installed this thing and figured, "well, I'll load it up with tickets, no worries, I usually buy a couple of books". And then I see the ####ing things expire in a week. Why? What the actual #### is the point of that? There's absolutely no need for them to ever expire - just like the paper ticket books you can buy.

What a scam. I mean it's just going to be like 12 bucks or whatever but that's still incredibly stupid.

I second this gear grinder. It's so dumb. I hadn't taken the train since Covid started but I caught it after a football game and figured I'd use the app. I thought I'd buy like 10 so I could have some in my "wallet" but when I saw they expire in a week I only got 1. I don't get it. Kind of a beer ticket situation, buy a bunch and by the end of the night you have some left. Cash grab.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Macman

I can’t believe the long lines at the end or start of the month to buy passes especially since everyone has a phone now.

Low income passes. You can get a monthly pass for as low as five bucks. You have to be approved via some process, and although they do have the option for it to be sent to a smartphone I'd imagine the demographic that needs a five dollar pass would be the most likely to not have a smartphone.

[Wormius]

They only makes sense to use them if you’re planning on using them immediately on a bus and don’t have cash - unless the buses start accepting credit cards.

[mrkajz44]

I know a guy who says he only buys one ticket a week and let's them expire because he never gets checked at rush hour. He essentially has a full month of c-train for like $12.

Seems like the better solution is to extend the window the ticket is valid (maybe 120 or 150 minutes) and the ticket gets activated at purchase. Allow users to load up a "wallet" on the app so buying a ticket can just take from the wallet and not require any transaction with the bank.

[Locke]

Transit is dying!

"Well...we should stomp on its throat..."

- Calgary Transit....probably.

[troutman]

When you go through a channel guide on someone’s TV and it lists dozens of channels they don’t get. Just show us the channels they do have!

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I know a guy who says he only buys one ticket a week and let's them expire because he never gets checked at rush hour. He essentially has a full month of c-train for like $12.

Seems like the better solution is to extend the window the ticket is valid (maybe 120 or 150 minutes) and the ticket gets activated at purchase. Allow users to load up a "wallet" on the app so buying a ticket can just take from the wallet and not require any transaction with the bank.

Pffft what an amateur. Why even buy one a week? It takes like less than 15s to open the app and buy one on the spot.