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ChineseAbout TAP cards in San Diego …
Contributed by Wad on August 12th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Don’t do it!
Last week, when I found that Metro’s TAP card worked in San Diego, I had wondered if Metropolitan Transit System operators and fare inspectors would count the cards if they held a fare.
An MTS representative says no. Here’s the letter:
When using MTS services you will need to pay the proper fare. Although the TAP card worked at the TVM, it is not a MTS Compass Card and therefore it is not considered as proper fare. And when a MTS Fare Inspector checks your fare you run the risk of getting a citation. Feel free to contact the Compass Card office by dialing 511 for further assistance.
Discussion
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Please keep discussions civil: exercise Troll Controll.
Why do I have the feeling that a Compass Card is easier to obtain than a TAP card?
Also, kudos to MTS for responding to your e-mail. Now if only LA Metro would ever do that.
I forgot to post this yesterday. I asked the MTA if they would accept Compass cards in Los Angeles. Here’s the response I got from TAP-TO-GO:
“Dear Customer,
At this time the Compass card is not accepted on the Los Angeles Transit Systems.
Thank you”
I have to say, that answer is unfortunate, but it is not unexpected. Real life frequently fails to follow the “Air Bud” rule.
Still, it does leave me wondering. Why not allow it? The ultimate purpose of TAP is to be the do-all, be-all card for all of Los Angeles County, so why can’t that extend to the other counties? Once again, my thoughts turn to Japan: everybody knows about the SUICA, but not everyone knows about the PASMO, which is essentially a SUICA in all but name. The cards are interchangable and nobody cares which one you use.
If it is simply a case where it hasn’t occurred to anybody that anyone would want to use a TAP card in San Diego, we need to add this to our “to do” list of transit advocacy.
If it is a case of regional rivalry, well that’s just sad and ridiculous.
James Fujita wrote:
For all we know, there could be some valid reasons on the part of the transit agencies for not accepting interoperable but “foreign” cards.
It may have to do with fare counting or some arcane rules that could jeopardize their subsidies.
Otherwise, I don’t see anything that prevents L.A. and San Diego County from seeking a reciprocity agreement.
It’s fare counting. Metro administers the Universal Fare System (aka the bank) for TAP, while MTS administers the bank for Compass. What should happen is that both cards carry a separate bank so that when you place a Metro day pass on a Compass Card, it recognizes it as a Metro day pass and not as a MTS day pass.
Of all the battles in transit advocacy to tackle, I think we can let this one slide.