Myki - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> We're stuck with a ticket to deride

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Authority defends cost of research into fare evasion

Authority defends cost of research into fare evasion
January 6, 2013
Henrietta Cook

THE state's public transport authority has defended spending $256,000 on research and surveys into fare evasion and says it is still a ''serious problem'' despite the switch to myki.

Public Transport Victoria awarded consultancy Multi-modal Transport Solutions a $149,372 contract, which expired on Thursday, to conduct its most recent biannual survey of fare evasion and valid concession cardholders.

It also awarded a $107,546 contract to Monash University last year to investigate the psychology of fair evasion.

Public Transport Victoria spokeswoman Andrea Duckworth said the research was a good investment.
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''PTV will use the findings to better inform the fight against fare evasion and the work of authorised officers. It will tell us where we should be concentrating our activities and will be critical to driving down fare evasion to much lower levels, reducing the cost to taxpayers from people not paying the correct fare, so we think it is good investment in the ongoing fight against fare evasion.''

It has been more than a week since myki became the state's stand-alone ticket system. Ticket inspectors have since been out in full force but it will be unclear how successful myki operating alone has been in reducing fare evasion until the first month's infringement figures are made available at the end of January.

Ms Duckworth said fare evasion across Melbourne's public transport networks was at its lowest levels in years, down from a high of 13.5 per cent in May 2011 to 9.4 per cent last October.

She said the biggest drop in fare evasion had been on trams, where it almost halved in 18 months from 20.3 per cent in May 2011 to 10.5 per cent last October.

She said the results showed that fare evasion would be reduced with myki. ''While there has been a big decrease, fare evasion remains a serious problem with about one in 10 people not paying their way, and costs the Victorian community around $80 million a year.''

But Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said myki was bound to increase the number of inadvertent fare evaders.

''These are people who are inherently honest but the system makes it difficult for them, especially when you can't buy a ticket on a tram and there are limited options elsewhere.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/authority-defends-cost-of-research-into-fare-evasion-20130105-2ca6h.html#ixzz2H7ZxQU17

[STB]

Just been taking a break from some work here at home and after doing some wandering around on the Internet, came across this:

http://russellmarks.weebly.com/myki-user-reply.html

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Privacy overhaul as myki card glitch gets fixed]Privacy overhaul as myki card glitch gets fixed

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Daniel Bowen Blog --> Unwanted Myki cards: new collection bin at Skybus terminus

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Herald Sun Editorial -->  Myki system loses its mates

... Myki appears to have got off to a good start and is coping OK on its own, but of course the real test will come when school holidays are over and the system returns to full capacity ...

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Twitter

Daniel Bowen ‏@danielbowen

Blog: Known #Myki bugs, and all the other things they should fix http://www.danielbowen.com/2013/01/22/myki-bugs/ ...

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Herald Sun --> Software glitch hits early adopters buying passes for myki cards

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Melbourne Age --> The reports you are not allowed to see

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Herald Sun --> Passengers fleeced by myki machines cash grab

[HappyTrainGuy]

These damn paywalls haha.

[ozbob]

User beware ...   

BBC News London --> London bus contactless system charging wrong cards

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Fines a fare cop for myki cheats

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Melbourne Age --> Fare-evader fines soar under myki

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Herald Sun --> Confusion as Metcard ticket machines linger on trams

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Melbourne Age --> Thousands escape fare evasion fines

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Melbourne Age --> V/Line conductors unable to sell tickets under myki

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From the Herald Sun Leader click here!

Commuters soon able to top up myki on buses

Commuters soon able to top up myki on buses

    Kylie Adoranti
    From: Leader
    March 13, 2013 12:00AM

COMMUTERS will be able to top up their myki cards on buses from the end of next month.
Access all Areas. $1 for the first 28 days. Only $2.95 a week thereafter. Learn more.

Old Metcard devices are being removed from all metropolitan buses and replaced with myki equipment. Works are expected finish by the end of April.

The new equipment means passengers can ask their bus drivers to put up to $20 on their myki card.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Paul Westcott said he was pleased people would finally be able to top up their myki cards on the bus.

"Now Metcard has been turned off, they have to take all the Metcard equipment out of the buses and install the myki console, where the bus driver can put money on the card for people," Mr Westcott said.

"It is a convenient system for most bus passengers because a lot of them don't have access to myki machines or the internet to top up their card," he said.

"This is an important service and we think bus users deserve to have top up facilities."

Public Transport Victoria spokesman Adrian Darwent said there were no plans to introduce top-up machines on trams, or to provide the requested short-term tickets for visitors.

[ozbob]

http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2013/myki-the-only-way-to-go-on-regional-buses-this-april/

myki the only way to go on regional buses this April

25/03/2013

Regional bus networks selling short term two hour and daily disposable smart card tickets will become myki only services in April.

The move replicates the same ticketing arrangements available in Melbourne since late December, and is in preparation for myki beginning operating on V/Line interurban trains, which is the final stage of delivery currently planned for myki.

Public Transport Victoria Director of Customer Services Alan Fedda said the switch to myki being the only ticket that can be used will be staggered across the regions.

"Seymour, Bendigo and Ballarat will be the first regional bus networks to switch to myki only ticketing from Friday, 12 April," he said.

"This will be followed soon after by buses in Geelong from Friday 19 April, and the Latrobe Valley from Friday 26 April.

"It will take a few days to convert all buses to full myki sales and operation, but passengers should be ready for myki to be the only ticket that can be used from day one.

To support regional bus users in the transition to myki only ticketing, more than 20 additional retail outlets are being added to the regional retail network.

This is in addition to myki machines at V/Line stations selling full fare cards, and Australia Post outlets selling myki Starter Packs.

Mr Fedda said the additional retail outlets provide regional bus users with more places to buy and top up myki cards.

"These additional retail outlets take to approximately 60 locations across Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour and the Latrobe Valley where myki cards can be purchased and topped up," he said.

"While passengers do have a few weeks before myki is the only ticket that can be used, I would urge them to get ready now by getting a myki or getting out one they already have but don't really use.

"To find their nearest myki retailer, passengers can use the myki locater at myki.com.au, look for the myki sign out the front of retail outlets, or call 1800 800 007 and our staff will be able to assist.

"myki customer service staff are currently out and about on regional bus networks and passengers should ask them any questions they have about the system, including what card is best for them and where to buy and top up."

Mr Fedda also reminded customers who might have purchased a myki a number of years ago to check the expiry date of their card.

"myki has been operating on buses in regional Victoria for close to four years now so some early issued cards might be close to expiring," he said.

"I would urge all those passengers who do have a myki in a drawer somewhere to check the expiry date in their online account if their card is registered, or call 1800 800 007 and PTV staff will be able to assist."

For more information about myki and public transport, people can visit myki.com.au and ptv.vic.gov.au.

-ends-

[ozbob]

Twitter

myki mate ‏@mykimate 8m

One week and myki is the only way to go on buses in Ballarat, Bendigo and Seymour - get a myki today http://tiny.cc/9fs1uw

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Melbourne Age --> Fare evasion blitz on trams, buses

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3AW --> Leaked memo: Ticket inspector 'gorillas' now 'slightly less dangerous'

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Melbourne Age --> Fare evaders allowed to do a runner

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Herald Sun --> Cash-clogged myki machines have commuters fuming

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Cash-clogged myki machines have commuters fuming

Twitter

Alan Davies ‏@MelbUrbanist

Media botch: has Fairfax gone off the rails again? http://wp.me/pPJet-3Eb

[ozbob]

Twitter

Melbourne PT user ‏@mttb123 11m

A further $102 million to be spent on more #myki readers & vending machines. Should hopefully ease station congestion & queues. #vicbudget

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Melbourne Age --> Premier rules out short-term ticket U-turn

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Myki mobile fraud delivers free ride

Myki mobile fraud delivers free ride
May 21, 2013 - 7:35AM Deborah Gough

Bus passengers have found new ways to ride free on myki.

The Bus Association of Victoria has said a small number of passengers are damaging their cards and then using a recording on their mobile phones of the myki "beep" to fake their validation so drivers do not question the fare.

The association's executive officer, Chris Lowe, said passengers had created new ways of fare evasion in response to the new ticketing system.

"The mobile makes the noise instead of the myki machine," Mr Lowe said.

"We are greatly concerned that people are going to these lengths to fare-evade."

He said drivers reported it was mostly students using the tactic.

The Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said he had not heard of this particular scam but the myki system was being exploited because it could be.

"Some people will find ways to work around a system that has holes in [it], which clearly myki does," Mr Morton said.

He said there were high rates of fare evasion because of the low likelihood of being caught.

"Some people will dream up these schemes when you (the state government) do not have proper enforcement of fare compliance because you cannot be bothered staffing the system with people whose job it is to check tickets," Mr Morton said.

He said before myki and its predecessor Metcard, some passengers found ways to get free fares from the "scratchie" travel card. Back then, some passengers re-applied the silver paint that was scratched away to mark the day and time it was used, allowing passengers to fraudulently re-use the ticket, Mr Morton said.

Mr Lowe said Public Transport Victoria funded the Bus Association to employ just 12 authorised officers over the entire state bus system, yet tram and train services had hundreds of officers.

He said the dozen officers concentrated on the metropolitan system but made regular trips to major regional centres. He said their role was to educate passengers, provide customer service, and enforce the law.

In a statement, a Public Transport Victoria spokesman said it was aware of social media chatter about this particular scam. He said the PTV was working closely with operators to tackle fare evasion and target known hot spots, including bus interchanges.

"Authorised officers work across Melbourne's trains, trams and buses checking tickets and are checking more tickets than ever before on buses," he said.

"With more checks more often on buses, it's no longer a case of if you'll get caught, but rather when," he said.

The fine for travelling without a valid ticket is $207.

The state budget stated $74 million was lost through fare evasion, down from $80 million in 2011-2012. The 2012 fare evasion rate was 9.4 per cent.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Ventura Bus ‏@VenturaBus 1h

Sale and top-up of myki cards to commence on metropolitan buses from Mon, 27 May 2013. See http://www.venturabus.com.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Copy-of-DOC-13-103228-Staff-Advisory-2013-19-Sale-and-top-up-of-myki-cards-to-commence-on-Metropolitan-Buses.pdf ... for details.

[ozbob]

Twitter

myki mate ‏@mykimate 3m

Buses in metropolitan Melbourne and on the Mornington Peninsula have begun selling and topping up myki: http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/myki-sales-and-top-up-now-available-on-melbourne-buses/ ...

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myki to start on V/Line commuter services

--> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/myki-to-start-on-v-line-commuter-services/

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Country train travellers to start switch to myki

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Twitter

PTUA ‏@ptua 1h

At last! #Myki cards to be replaced on the spot at stations http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/replace-a-myki-on-the-spot/ ... No more Auto Topup failure blocks http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/improvements-to-myki-auto-top-up/ ...

[ozbob]

Twitter

myki mate ‏@mykimate

Passengers can now use myki to travel between Melbourne and Seymour Station: http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/myki-to-start-on-v-line-commuter-services/ ...

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Melbourne Age --> Thieves targeting Myki machines

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Melbourne Age --> Myki online top-up failure

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Herald Sun --> Satisfaction on the decline after myki became the only ticket in town

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Twitter

myki mate ‏@mykimate 11m

myki starts on V/Line commuter services between Melbourne and Bendigo this Wednesday, 17 July.

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Melbourne Age --> Myki machine damage spree: three charged

[STB]

I find it refreshing to see a former Premier (Liberal by all means), to say that debt isn't actually a bad thing and its actually worthwhile to spend on infrastructure while governments are in debt and the interest rates are low, plus that the public needs to be educated on what debt actually means to a government.  Now if only that mindset transferred to those who are in power to build the Cross River Rail rather than this (I will admit, mostly public driven) mindset to not be in debt which I believe was triggered by the Howard years and the lack of spending during that time.