On Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:06:10 -0800 (PST), John B wrote:

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that withdrawing the paper
ODTC would harm London's reputation as a tourist destination.

I think it's a massive and absurd exaggeration. For a start, I don't
think the vast majority of travellers even particularly think about
the public transport system where they're going, much less the
ticketing methods used on it.

They might if it has a reputation for having a visitor-hostile
ticketing system.

In any case, TfL could easily ensure that Oyster cards were available
for gbp10 with gbp7 credit and gbp20 with gbp17 credit from vending
machines at all airports, mainline terminals and major Tube stations -
and from behind the counter at hotels, ticket stops, etc, packaged
with a 10-language leaflet on how to top them up. That'd be pretty
straightforward for everyone.

That's not even remotely straightforward (especially compared to just
buying a paper ODTC). And you typed "gbp10 with gbp7 credit" without
seeing the obvious marketing problem with that?

(and very few people would bother getting a refund, which is a bonus
from Londoners' perspective.)

So not only should TfL mug tourists for £3+, but we should all be smug
about it too?