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Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

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Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#2
It's interesting that Chariot can sell a bus ride for barely more than the (heavily subsidised) MUNI costs.

In my limited experience though, it seems that when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare. Everybody else either has some kind of pass or is fare evading.

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#3
post #2

It's interesting that Chariot can sell a bus ride for barely more than the (heavily subsidised) MUNI costs. In my limited experience though, it seems that when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare. Everybody else either has some kind of pass or is fare evading.

Completely different situation. Muni can't just stop a route if it's not profitable.

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#4
post #2

It's interesting that Chariot can sell a bus ride for barely more than the (heavily subsidised) MUNI costs. In my limited experience though, it seems that when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare. Everybody else either has some kind of pass or is fare evading.

> ...when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare...

By this, do you mean "I'm the only one who seems to be paying in cash?". If you do, then the vast majority of folks who aren't fare-jumping are either:

* Using a Clipper Card [0] that has a "cash" balance

* Using a Clipper Card that has a monthly pass on it

* Using a Clipper Card that has a transfer from another bus on it

* Using a paper transfer from a previous actual-cash transaction with the farebox

[0] RFID tag which locally stores a balance, a couple of ticket types, and a shocking amount of your fare history. I presume that the data from the card readers on the buses are synced up with some central DB periodically.

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#5
post #2

It's interesting that Chariot can sell a bus ride for barely more than the (heavily subsidised) MUNI costs. In my limited experience though, it seems that when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare. Everybody else either has some kind of pass or is fare evading.

> ...when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare... By this, do you mean "I'm the only one who seems to be paying in cash?". If you do, then the vast majority of folks who aren't fare-jumping are either: * Using a Clipper Card [0] that has a "cash" balance * Using a Clipper Card that has a monthly pass on it * Using a Clipper Card that has a transfer from another bus on it * Using a paper transfer…

Yup - you can download 60 days of ride history from clippercard.com if you register your card. Tracks every tag (so entry only on Muni/AC Transit/VTA, entry/exit on BART and Caltrain).

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#6
post #2

It's interesting that Chariot can sell a bus ride for barely more than the (heavily subsidised) MUNI costs. In my limited experience though, it seems that when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare. Everybody else either has some kind of pass or is fare evading.

> ...when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare... By this, do you mean "I'm the only one who seems to be paying in cash?". If you do, then the vast majority of folks who aren't fare-jumping are either: * Using a Clipper Card [0] that has a "cash" balance * Using a Clipper Card that has a monthly pass on it * Using a Clipper Card that has a transfer from another bus on it * Using a paper transfer…

Anecdotally, at least, I see a lot of people riding Muni who are fare evading. I've also never seen any fare enforcement on a Muni bus, despite living here for ~6 years.

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#7
post #3
post #2

It's interesting that Chariot can sell a bus ride for barely more than the (heavily subsidised) MUNI costs. In my limited experience though, it seems that when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare. Everybody else either has some kind of pass or is fare evading.

Completely different situation. Muni can't just stop a route if it's not profitable.

It does not help that some of their maintenance staff is on 200K/y salary. Last time I have checked their wages it was pretty obvious that some of the staff is overpaid greatly. I also know some anecdotal stories about how employees exploiting the company.

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare... By this, do you mean "I'm the only one who seems to be paying in cash?". If you do, then the vast majority of folks who aren't fare-jumping are either: * Using a Clipper Card [0] that has a "cash" balance * Using a Clipper Card that has a monthly pass on it * Using a Clipper Card that has a transfer from another bus on it * Using a paper transfer…

Anecdotally, at least, I see a lot of people riding Muni who are fare evading. I've also never seen any fare enforcement on a Muni bus, despite living here for ~6 years.

You must have never done anything like -say- use the 38 to connect to CalTrain shortly before or shortly after rush hour. :)

I made the 38->30/45->CalTrain or 47->CalTrain ride every single day for nearly a year. It seemed like once a month or once every other month, MTA fare inspectors would board the 38, 47, or -far more rarely- 30/45 I was riding and check everyone's proof of payment. On the 38 and the 47, it always took about five minutes and was a... fairly irritating delay on top of a really irritating commute.

Re: Chariot Wins First Round of San Francisco's Private Transit Battle

#9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...when I ride the MUNI I'm the only person actually paying a fare... By this, do you mean "I'm the only one who seems to be paying in cash?". If you do, then the vast majority of folks who aren't fare-jumping are either: * Using a Clipper Card [0] that has a "cash" balance * Using a Clipper Card that has a monthly pass on it * Using a Clipper Card that has a transfer from another bus on it * Using a paper transfer…

Anecdotally, at least, I see a lot of people riding Muni who are fare evading. I've also never seen any fare enforcement on a Muni bus, despite living here for ~6 years.

I took the 27 to work occasionally, and because it stops right outside the police station, fare enforcement occurred like 30% of the time
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