London Banter - View Single Post - Which Oyster for youngster moving to London

[email protected] · September 20th 12, 05:04 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article , (Roland Perry)
wrote:

In message , at
05:21:00 on Thu, 20 Sep 2012, remarked:
Card-bloat is getting significant. These days a student will have two
ID cards (one for the department and one for the Students Union) and
possibly a third if their hall of residence has rfid door locks. Then
there's a driving licence (for proof of age) and at least one debit
card. Add an Oyster and a Railcard, and it's already reached seven!

Despite being collegiate, Cambridge University seems to manage with one
ID card which also opens doors etc. Some students need passports for
proof of age.

One of the nice things about Cambridge is that the Collegiate system
is better at co-ordinating such things than other Unis where the
accommodation service is somewhat disjoint. Also the colleges fulfil
the role of the social aspects of the Students Union (do Cambridge
students get an NUS card these days, and what use is it in the City?)

Dunno. I could ask my Cambridge student daughter I suppose.

Finally, the colleges are generally run as secure campuses, whereas
other Unis tend to have open accommodation sites and separate
key-entry to each "staircase" limited to the residents therein. [How
does Churchill handle this issue?]

You're in the wrong newsgroup to ask that. Otherwise Tim might tell you.

And card bloat is not limited to the young. I have sometimes wondered if
some idiot age challenged me whether they would accept my bus pass as
good enough photo ID proof of age.

The tickets I have here for the "freshers ball" (run by the Students
Union) specifically state that Student ID is not accepted by the
venues as proof of being over 18.

Probably imposed by venues. They live in fear of the Licensing Act.

I've often wondered if my Amex card embossed "Member since a date in
the 70's" proves I'm over 18?

Does it have your photo on, though?

--
Colin Rosenstiel