April 19, 2007
Breaking News-- People Don't Pay Full Fares on Cable Cars
In another shocking development, it has been discovered that 40% of the people who board cable cars are not having their fares collected by conductors. Actually, this isn't that shocking considering it was discovered awhile back by Gavin Newsom, Private Dick. In another shocking part of the story, it was discovered that when and where a fare is collected and at what time can have an effect on the taking of fares.
This information was uncovered by the MTA's crack team of Muni riding Ninjas who rode the cable car forty-two times and took notes. The good news is that the Muni Ninjas didn’t' find much in the way of evidence that conductors were pocketing the money as they were once accused of.
So, naturally, the question is what to do about all this. Nathaniel Ford says they are considering such ideas as increasing training, more deployment of Muni Ninjas, and the occasional supervisor riding the car to keep an eye on everything. Hey, maybe they can install cameras and spy on everyone?
|
I ride the cable cars about once a week, maybe twice, and can see why this happens. When the cable car is boarding at one end or the other it's easy to collect the fares. But when it's super crowded in the middle and they're piling people on, it's almost impossble for the conductor to catch everyone , esp. if nonpayers get off after only a few stops.
Since I have a MUNI pass it doesn't matter if I pay or not -a monthly pass pays for unlimited rides on the cable car, but I've seen good folks, who want to pay who can't reach the guy in the back because there's like, too many people in the middle. I actually saw a German couple give their 10 bucks to another passenger and asked him to give it to the conductor since they were in a rush to get off. And yes, the guy actually gave it to the conductor!
"the time and amount of crowding on a cable car can affect when and when not a conductor collects fare. "
When and when not a conductor collects fares?
jon, I will send you a copy of ELEMENTS OF STYLE. Please post your mailing address.
I ride the California Street cable car almost every day. Like Greg, I have a MUNI pass, so I don't need to pay. I am only asked to show my pass about half the time--but then again, the conductors usually recognize me. Might this explain the low collection rate--the conductors recognize those who've flashed a pass before?
I had friends from NY over for dinner a couple of weeks ago and they marvelled at how much fun the cable cars are - and its free they claimed!!!
I agree with Christine. When I used to live on California St., I'd hop the cable car downtown and see the same people getting on with Fast Passes. All the cable car operators knew me, and I'm sure they knew a lot of these other people, too. But it is also true that pretty girls often do ride free. (Oh, I didn't mean that to sound as suggestive as it does, and I didn't mean me!)
Hey, don't sell yourself short! We ARE hot!!
BML,
Jon needs more than a copy of EoS. Can we suggest Zinsser's "On Writing Well"? It may stop him from ending his sentences (in this post alone) with "of" and "this" and using "awhile"--and otherwise sounding like an ignorant. But this is only a blog! We're not supposed to care!