SFist: What's Going On Here, Translink?

Belgand

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:07:17 -0800

FastPass on Translink seems to work pretty easily. At least, according to the website. You sign up for it and it puts on 30 days of use. When it runs out it doesn't load another 30 days until the next time you use it. For me the issue is one of Muni's Proof of Payment system. Do I collect a transfer when I get on Metro? I mean, yeah, I probably won't get hassled about it, but looking at it from their perspective it doesn't really provide any proof that you've paid. If I need one... uh, then why are there readers at all entrances to the trains? And, for that matter, why are they on the back doors of buses? As others have said as well though, aside from "Comm Error"s it's been working pretty well.

ehjauriksson

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:43:55 -0800

Yeah, I've been using TransLink on MUNI Metro and buses since mid 2007, or whenever the first readers arrived and whenever RTC gave Discount ID cardholders TransLink chips. It's been working, flawlessly, except when machines were having "Comm Errors" of course. Does anyone know if TransLink cards will be able to systematically be our POPs? Paper transfers waste trees!

Xenu

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:35:17 -0800

By the time TransLink works, I'll be too busy playing Duke Nukem Forever and listening to Chinese Democracy to care.

zippy_monster

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:41:46 -0800

TL works on MUNI. What's the big deal? It's worked for a while. If you get stuck with a non-op reader... explain the situation to the driver or station agent. If you get questioned by a fare inspector don't worry. They don't even check the card. As for the monthly passes, I don't know where you'd even go to load the fare on there. I suspect that feature has been removed.

Plug1

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:52:47 -0800

im still using my November 2007 Fast Pass. strangely, its expiration has never posed a problem.

Leanne

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:44:06 -0800

I just starting using Translink this week for commuting via the Transbay bus to a freelance job in Alameda, and I will be using it next week when I take Golden Gate Transit up to Marin. It's definitely handy! Plus, if you lose it, you can cancel the card without losing your funds. Very nice, considering I've lost a $30 Bart ticket before and am always paranoid about losing my Fast Pass.

overshare

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:43:33 -0800

On a related note, I was able to flash my (empty) TransLink card to a fare inspector last month. They let me off without question...

Incandenza

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:22:44 -0800

No, SRSLY?!!

aj

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:03:37 -0800

You could load a monthly pass on it when I was a beta tester, back in 2002. I presume that feature has not been removed.

generati

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:56:14 -0800

F*ck Translink. Unless they are going to make it as cheap and easy to use my fast pass. There's also the issue of privacy, do I really want all of the transit agencies warehousing data on where I've traveled to? No thank you Translink.

megang

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:55:14 -0800

I saw someone using that mysterious machine this morning!

sfbs

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:54:47 -0800

Who cares? If it is being set up by Muni, I am sure it will just another failure in the making. I think I'll stick with my Fastpass.

Akit

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:47:32 -0800

I would not even dare to load a pass on the card for at least a few months while Muni tries to iron out any issues. You don't want to get caught with a non functioning reader and be forced to pull out $1.50. What I think is really interesting is Commuter Check and WageWorks can automatically load every month your pretaxed funds into your account. That's about a 30% to 40% savings right off the bat.

KatyG

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:38:51 -0800

Possibly: a coworker's son works for MUNI, and per them both, they are starting to recruit people to test the system. So a definite maybe.

overshare

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:35:54 -0800

I assume I'll be able to load a monthly fast pass on my TransLink card? A boy can dream...

Akit

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:34:55 -0800

Thanks for posting my photo. Here's where I found the most recent article about the July 15th rollout: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/18/BAGC9107UJ.DTL&hw=translink&sn=002&sc=981 What is really strange is that they (Muni, Translink, MTC, and even Caltrain) haven't posted an official rollout date, and we are only 13 days away from the last published article the Chron wrote about. Maybe giving it some attention through SFist will get the damn managers to get at least Muni running.

pdx6

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:34:32 -0800

I want to believe!