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A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

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Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#13
post #9

The two passengers are going in opposite directions, so when would they ever have a chance to switch passes? Are they supposed to get off their trains and meet each other on the platform, then wait for another train? Sounds like a stupid amount of work to steal 85 cents.

I was confused when I read that at first, too. The second person is coming from the opposite direction, which means they are already on the train when you get on.

Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#14
post #9

The two passengers are going in opposite directions, so when would they ever have a chance to switch passes? Are they supposed to get off their trains and meet each other on the platform, then wait for another train? Sounds like a stupid amount of work to steal 85 cents.

I was confused when I read that at first, too. The second person is coming from the opposite direction, which means they are already on the train when you get on.

[deleted]

Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#16
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hack the movie theater by buying one ticket but going into two movies!

Hack your insurance policy by lying about your smoking!

Hack the power company by plugging your iPad into the electrical outlets on your neighbor's porch!

Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#17
post #8

When I first moved to SF as a poor grad student doing a summer internship, your Clipper card could go in the negative (for example if you had $2 on it and took a $5 route, you'd be at -$3). Getting a new Clipper card was only something like $1.50; if you took the Caltrain/BART often (expensive routes), it'd almost always be advantageous to buy a clipper card with as little cash on it as possible, toss your card away…

    I wish Fast Company had written an article about me 
    at the time :(
Not enough Big Data.

Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#18
post #11
post #3

Hack the newspaper business by paying for one newspaper and then taking them all!

Hack the movie theater by buying one ticket but going into two movies!

I believe the hack is buying one ticket and then going to the back door and letting in 10 of your friends.

Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#19
post #8

When I first moved to SF as a poor grad student doing a summer internship, your Clipper card could go in the negative (for example if you had $2 on it and took a $5 route, you'd be at -$3). Getting a new Clipper card was only something like $1.50; if you took the Caltrain/BART often (expensive routes), it'd almost always be advantageous to buy a clipper card with as little cash on it as possible, toss your card away…

I always thought it was pretty grim that Boston's "Charlie Card" was named after a man who was 'trapped' in the subway system because he couldn't afford to pay his way out.

Re: A Twitter Data Scientist Hacks San Francisco's Subway Fares

#20
"Out of 60,334 of these route pairs, Haque says that switching mid-route for 4,666 of them could save at least $1 together."

Two things.

First, that's an awfully low number of people who could take advantage of this hack.

Second, You're going to save $1??? Not sure the savings to effort ratio on this one really makes sense.

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