Comments on: TVMs Coming To A Few New Places

By: Ande

Ande — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:00:40 +0000

So I went to try and add money via coins at 2 TVMs at University Station and was sad to find that while the computer is setup and the slot is there it is blocked from the inside.

Anyone know any info on this?

By: Z

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:01:23 +0000

From what i hear busiess has been quite brisk as people are getting the cards, and i agree once things settle down it will be a bit easier. However, you still need convient access to reload your card should you forget, or are not able to do it online before your trip. Having universal access to the system makes it easy for everyone of all kinds to make sure they are ready for their trip on their terms. You dont want your potential riders to have to go out of their way to use the system, that will not make your service attractive and you will loose riders becasue of that. Same thing goes for having 24-7 phone support. They might not be able to help much at 2 am, however they are there if you need to call in and get something fixed. You can atleast get things started on your terms. Again, its about making the system available to everyone. Having such a complicated system is bound to scare some riders off, but if you have universal support for both retail operations, and phone support 24/7 this will help mitigate some of that. Otherwise more transit optional riders are bound to say “to hell with this” and go back to driving as they dont want to mess with it.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:52:39 +0000

There are huge accessibility issues with PDFs, especially for the visually impaired.

Besides generating a text list (with links to a map provider) from a database is way easier than maintaining a PDF.

By: Mickymse

Mickymse — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:46:35 +0000

Agreed, Oran, that there’s no reason for it to be a PDF. OTOH, what computer doesn’t now come with Adobe Reader installed on it, and it’s a free download that some browsers will even prompt you to do.

By: Blue Swan

Blue Swan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:28:12 +0000

For $70,000 you could subsidize Clearwire broadband use to all those people and let them charge up their ORCA cards over the web.

By: litlnemo

litlnemo — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:21:27 +0000

PDFs are more accessible than .docs, at least. But even if you have a PDF reader, it’s much sloooooower than a simple HTML page! I hate it when websites do that — PDFs for everything. Ugh.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:23:18 +0000

It would be sweet if the RFID chip in ORCA cards worked with WiFi so you could load your card using your own laptop on the Web site. I suppose other people could more easily hack your card, and there would probably be a whole slew of other issues, but how sweet would that be?

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:39:04 +0000

A complaint about the ORCA website: Why do they provide that list only as a PDF? It would be better if it were a full webpage with links to the trip planner or map that’s updated more frequently. PDFs are not very accessible and not everyone might have a PDF reader on their computer. Then offer the PDF as a printable option.

By: josh

josh — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:25:56 +0000

If you look on the ORCA site, they do have a growing list of stores that sell ORCA fares. Still only a one-page list, but it’s a longer list than it was a month or two ago.

By: Jeff Welch

Jeff Welch — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:54:53 +0000

Probably both. I doubt that the actual production cost of the Orca RFID card is $5.00, there *is* some cost with supplying this technology. Add to that the idea that the card is supposed to replace petroleum-based renewable/disposable cards, and you have your second part incentive.

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:41:01 +0000

I thought they have readers at the retail locations that sell ORCA. I know they did at the Walgreen’s where I bought a Translink in San Francisco.

By: Erik G.

Erik G. — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:44:31 +0000

Does the ORCA card REALLY cost $5? Or is that a fee made up to “help” patrons to look after their cards and not lose them?

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:38:39 +0000

The envelopes would be treated by the retailer as a cash item accountable to the agency. If they lose it or it is pilfered they either have to report it or take a loss. Since the card would be sealed, tampering would be evident. They could also be blocked until they are purchased and validated as someone pointed out similar to the gift card procedures.

There also needs to be a massive effort at education and PR around use of the card and where to buy it. I took the train back to downtown yesterday and ended up talking with a guy returning from the airport after a flight. He was expecting to transfer to a CT bus in downtown (on Sunday) using his paper ticket to get him to Lynnwood. I told him that a paper transfer would not likely work today and should consider getting an ORCA card for future trips. He thought he wouldn’t use it enough to justify purchasing one. Even after I told him that the card costs nothing additional until February. People are not “groking” why they should have a card and how it saves them money even if they won’t use it often.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:53:25 +0000

I think you just trust the retailer. I trust that Bartell’s sells legit transit passes just like they sell legit drugs in the pharmacy. Either way, I can’t tell until I try to use them.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:50:41 +0000

I meant to divide a one-year figure over whatever the expected life cycle is. I also realize that the TVMs don’t actually receive a paycheck.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:54:42 +0000

Not my year – Tim’s. It’s less than totally arbitrary, because one year is an easy number to conceptualize, and to divide it to cover 20, 50, or 95.89 years – which is how long I hope the TVMs last! – is cognitively very easy.

By: downintacoma

downintacoma — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:21:46 +0000

Here is a perfect opportunity to take a hint from one of the world’s “big” transit systems, London. Oyster card running low? Stop in to almost any corner shop/convenience store, and they have a card reader and machine on the counter. (It’s not automated-TVM style, though. A little human interaction never hurt anyone.) Safeway, QFC, 7-11, and their ilk would be perfect candidates. Even the occasional bar or nightspot to encourage less drunk driving. It’s wishful thinking, at best, and far-flung future ideas, but here’s hoping.

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:08:02 +0000

Just more ‘gatekeepers’ to discourage transit use.

By: DCodomo

DCodomo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:48:13 +0000

I don’t think It’s very likely an employee would take one, use it while it’s in a package, then return it. Maybe steal one sure, but that’s a whole different thing.

My concern would be if they made preloaded orca people would treat them like they were disposable. And that would undermind the whole point.

By: DCodomo

DCodomo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:43:00 +0000

I Agree Renton and Federal Way would both be very good locations, what about Redmond?