Comments on: Disposable ORCA Card Coming?

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:40:56 +0000

Aside from readers going out of service (which I’ve very rarely seen), the most frequent reason riders get the “try again” message is because they failed to properly tap the card. Hold the card flat against the reader until it beeps. Some drivers just let them go and some tell them the proper way to use it.

By: Z

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:26:26 +0000

I have to wonder how much revenue is not captured by faults in the orca system. It seems that whenever i have ridden the bus lately, one or two people get free rides because the system dident capture their fare/ride properly.

Sometimes i wonder if this expensive system is really worth it. Seems like the Epurse/transfer functionality mag-stripe cards could be employed simlar to bart/wmata/metrocard and TriM units could be added to the fareboxes to print electronic transfers like vancouver BC and other cities.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:50:53 +0000

CTA’s Chicago Card is $5, but the fee is waived for first-time users: http://www.chicago-card.com/cc/

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:49:08 +0000

ORCA absolutely uses near-field compliant RFID technology. The E-Purse functionality comes from 4k of writable memory.

From The RFID Journal: http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/5320/1

By: josh

josh — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:33:33 +0000

I’ve been carrying mine loose in the same pocket as my keychain every day since May and it doesn’t show any real damage so far, just cosmetic wear. But, just to be on the safe side, I’ve taken advantage of the free introductory offer and ordered a few extras.

I still think it’s too bad they designed the card to prevent the use of any standard lanyard punching. Surely they could have left room in the circuit layout for that….

By: Zed

Zed — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:31:09 +0000

This company sells a ton of different Oyster Card holders that would work well for ORCA too.

http://cart.straydecor.co.uk/index.php?p=catalog&parent=26&pg=1

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:23:15 +0000

Mythbusters made a cross bow out of paper and with a plastic tip that a high-security prisoner has access to and it works and can hurt someone.

I think “security” is more about people trying to forge the cards. They can print fake ORCA tickets and claim that they’re broken when it doesn’t scan. Of course the easy way to check that is to hold it up against the light and you’ll see the circuitry inside, kind of like the new $20 bills.

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:18:07 +0000

Keep it in your wallet or get a sleeve for it.

The readers can read through the wallet and a stack of cards, including a building access card.

By: Chad

Chad — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:53:19 +0000

So, with these ORCA cards, what is the best way to protect them for long-term use? I never really worried about the Puget Passes, since I would get a new one each month, so if they got dirty or scratched, I didn’t worry. But, since I don’t want to pay $5 for a new ORCA card, how do I protect it? I mean, it is going to be dropped onto the ground, it is going to get dirty, stepped on, get wet, etc.

Any suggestions from anyone?

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:32:14 +0000

The issue with metro vs st transfers can be easily managed by merging the two agencies. Or shift the responsibilities of the two. ST, plans and builds, Metro runs.

Make this painful enough and it might happen.

By: Eastsider

Eastsider — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:40:41 +0000

A capped day pass rate for ORCA e-purse would be a big selling point for ORCA.

By: Mike Orr

Mike Orr — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:11:12 +0000

Is there any other city that charges a nonrefundable fee for a transit card without a free card option?

The “security concerns” comment was amusing. How could it possibly be easier to kill somebody with a cardboard card than a plastic card? Well, you could fold the corners to make an arrow…

By: Is a disposable ORCA card coming? — TheTransitWire.com

Is a disposable ORCA card coming? — TheTransitWire.com — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:03:34 +0000

[...] The Seattle Transit Blog reports that a disposable ORCA card may be in the works. Citing a story in ATU Local 587 News Review, the post says that the Seattle-area (WA) transit agencies participating in the ORCA smart card program are taking steps to mitigate the impact of the card on low-income passengers. The card itself costs $5 and a minimum of $5 must be loaded on the card, for a total of $10. Link to full story in Seattle Transit Blog. [...]

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:09:17 +0000

That’s a great idea. It would make the system a lot more user friendly for people who wouldn’t have any idea what a day pass is.

By: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:19:41 +0000

I’m not sure. I called the ORCA support number in May, and “Washington State Ferries” picked up!

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:12:38 +0000

But do they accept the tickets as fare?

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:10:12 +0000

I thought ORCA support was run by ERG in their California center. The ORCA data center is in California.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:10:02 +0000

No transfers will be given or accepted on ST buses.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:09:25 +0000

For the record, the first link is from a different person than the second and third.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:07:41 +0000

I think the ORCA support office is staffed by employees of ST.