Boltar wrote:
wrote:
Boltar wrote:
Its simply going to screw money out of tourists or visiting
businessmen who don't know about Oyster
B2003
Is there anything wrong with this in principle, given especially as the
former are unlikely to have paid the extortionate subsidy that those of
us living in London have to pay to finance public transport?
IMO yes. The fare should be the same no matter how you pay. I don't go
into a shop and have to pay double for a coffee just because I paid
with cash and not a smartcard so why should it apply to the tube and
buses? Also if the mayor wants to stiff tourists why not take it to its
logical conclusion and just charge them an entry fee at airports? As
for subsidies , all public transport is subsidised around the world by
the local population. If you use your argument you might as well say
anyone foreign can't even walk on the pavements here since they didn't
pay the tax to build or maintain them.
B2003
Well that is - the fare being the same however paid - a very alien
concept to public transport anyway, isn't it?
Is not the very essenceof a "season ticket" (which then became
Travelcards and are now, to all intents and purposes, Oyster cards) a
pre-payment with the consequent fare reductions that follow from the
service provider having our money up front? Or, do you seriously
suggest that season-ticket holders (for which read Oyster card holders)
should have to pay the exact same fare according to the exact number of
journeys made because that is precisely what the cash-fare-payer would
have to pay? In the same way that you take my example to its logical
but ludicrous extreme, so can yours.
And, with respect, your example about cards in shops is not entirely
accurate: there are many store cards which offer their customers
discounts of one sort or another. I once bought 2 suits in Burton and
the tailor advised me to apply for a Burton card there and then, which
I did, which entitled me to a 20% discount! I never used it since, but
was certainly not going to turn down a £200 discount just for filling
in a short form, and using their credit card instead of one I already
had or a cheque.
Your suggestion of charging tourists to use the pavement is slightly
ludicrous, but are you suggesting that tourists should be able to use
the N.H.S. or claim State benefits here? Or, should their stay include
termtime, should their children be entitled to a few weeks' free
schooling at the local comp.?
Moreover, as has been adequately dealt with in other contributions to
this thread, those wishing to use Oyster cards are well-catered for,
and there is widespread publicity.
They say there's no disciple like the converted - if you have read some
of my earlier contributions, you will realise that I was originally
very opposed to Oyster. I have now used it for 3 or 4 months and am
most decidedly a convert!
Marc.