Metro Card Sharing no
Kenneth Lin
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CRL>Subject: Re: Metro Card Sharing now Illegal!
CRL>Matt Blaze (m...@research.att.com) writes:
CRL>> My understanding is that this was implemented partly because people
CRL>> frequently swipe the card several times before entering the turnstile and
CRL>> don't expect several fares to be deducted (I guess they re-swipe because
CRL>> they aren't sure the card "took" the first time). This wouldn't be a
CRL>> problem with card readers that "eat" and then return the card (like PATH,
CRL>> DC-METRO, BART and virtually everyone else use).
CRL>It wouldn't be a porblem if there were an audible BEEP and/or light that
CRL>indicates that the card was read correctly.
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The new AFC turnstiles do "beep" and display an LED "Go" message when a
MetroCard has been sucessfully swiped through the turnstile.
When you pay by token, you must still wait for the "beep" and this
slight lag time has actually reduced the through-put for the new AFC
turnstiles as compared to the previous mechanical turnstiles.
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Lawrence Hughes
KL>The new AFC turnstiles do "beep" and display an LED "Go" message when a
KL>MetroCard has been sucessfully swiped through the turnstile.
KL>When you pay by token, you must still wait for the "beep" and this
KL>slight lag time has actually reduced the through-put for the new AFC
KL>turnstiles as compared to the previous mechanical turnstiles.
In addition to the slower entry by the new turnstiles, exit throughput
has also been reduced. "Slam gates" are the most efficient means of
handling surges of exiting passengers; these gates have been eliminated
at MetroCard stations. Instead, passengers must use the two-direction
turnstiles, which are not only slower than "slam gates," but also reduce
entry capacity when a surge of exiting passengers consume all turnstile
capacity.
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Chris Bastian
> CRL>> My understanding is that this was implemented partly because people
> CRL>> frequently swipe the card several times before entering the
turnstile and
> CRL>> don't expect several fares to be deducted (I guess they re-swipe because
> CRL>> they aren't sure the card "took" the first time). This wouldn't be a
> CRL>> problem with card readers that "eat" and then return the card
(like PATH,
> CRL>> DC-METRO, BART and virtually everyone else use).
Actually, the problem lies in the ability of the MetroCard software to
handle transfers. While swiping the card time after time will simply
deduct the appropriate amount of fare each time (allowing multiple persons
to use the same card), only -one- transfer can be credited to each card at
a time. If you used the card on a Fifth Avenue bus for four people, and
then tried to switch to a crosstown bus, three people would get left
behind or would have to pay a second fare. I believe the feeling was that
it would be easier to simply have everyone use a separate card from the
start, rather than explain that this would be necessary -if- a transfer
would be needed.
Alex A. Yusko
>behind or would have to pay a second fare. I believe the feeling was that
>it would be easier to simply have everyone use a separate card from the
>start, rather than explain that this would be necessary -if- a transfer
>would be needed.
That's nice. And it may someday mean something when there
IS something to transfer to. Your bus example won't work
until busses start taking Metrocards, and they're having
trouble paying for all the discounts they promised anyway.
--
Alex A. Yusko on Delphi: AYUSKO ayu...@delphi.com