Phase out paper single tickets?

[somebody]

*cough* TAG (and it's various Sunbus ops all over Queensland).

Fortunately for them the unions is only a minor player at it's Gold Coast (Surfside) operations

Ooh.  Was it the union's fault?

[Fares_Fair]

I voted other ...

I know that the majority of people (not members of this forum) just want a simple daily return ticket for their occasional use.
Maybe if a limited life (disposable) go card was dispensed like a paper ticket at a machine, that would be a compromise and make for an easier transition.
I know this won't be popular here, but that is how it is.

Change should occur naturally where possible, and be phased in - not foisted.

An ageing population do not need more darn cards in their wallets or purses.
I believe in democracy and freedom of choice, not autocracy.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Did you see the Vic auditor's viewpoint that metcard should be abolished without delay for an all myki system (or some such)?  Seems like here we've gotten it pretty close to right by getting rid of the regressive fare options.

[#Metro]

I think the paper ticket is OK.

Sometimes people forget or are new or its late at night or the card dies for some unknown reason (happened to me three times) or whatever.

Just because you give someone a GoCard doesn't mean that they're now 'converted'-
people make decisions according to their perception of total overall cost (time + money), which is a mix of waiting time, in-vehicle time, nominal ticket price and access time (by foot, car, whatever).

So I think retain paper, but make sure that the cost of the ticket is rounded up to the nearest dollar. Saves the bus driver fiddling with coins.

I know 99% of the forum disagrees with me on this one, that's ok, but just putting it out there.

[Stillwater]

Maybe we should all be micro-chipped at birth, like cats and dogs -- makes it easier when you pass through the ticket barrier or identifying yourself to the taxman and the Department of Transport and Main Roads. 

[Gazza]

We're having a discussion about ticketing, and you're saying the same quote use every day:

"Waiting time, which is a mix of waiting time, in-vehicle time, nominal ticket price and access time (by foot, car, whatever)"

Do you have that line in a word document that you copy and paste completely random when you feel like sounding profound/intelligent for the sake of it?

Irrelevant time related factors like "vehicle time, waiting time, access time etc" influences paper versus go card does it?

Yet you completely ignore the actual waiting that matters with go cards versus paper....the queues at ticket machines and offices, and boarding delays when getting on a bus!

I can see what you mean about cards dying at random, but that's why I advocate a low $1 fee. Makes them cheap to get if needed (Caught without one, lose it, it dies etc)

Rounding off prices, and moving to a north American system of no change I think has a bit of merit.

[#Metro]

I can see what you mean about cards dying at random, but that's why I advocate a low $1 fee. Makes them cheap to get if needed (Caught without one, lose it, it dies etc)

I think that is quite wasteful and they don't even recycle go card. Imagine all that wasted and impact on the environment.
At least paper is biodegradable.

Rounding off prices, and moving to a north American system of no change I think has a bit of merit.

I agree.

Irrelevant time related factors like "vehicle time, waiting time, access time etc" influences paper versus go card does it?

? I was referring to this comment --->

Sell a go card, that passenger is now transitioned, and they are set and won't be a hinderance again.

[somebody]

I know 99% of the forum disagrees with me on this one, that's ok, but just putting it out there.

I actually agree with you on this one.  Unless bus drivers are going to sell go cards, then retaining paper seems completely reasonable.  There would also need to be go card sales at every train station all hours of the day and night to dispense with paper.

[Gazza]

^Simon, In another thread we discussed the idea of bus drivers all having a stack of go cards, held together by a world class rubber band.
I thought it was an axiom that to get rid of paper you'd need to have go cards as readily available as paper is currently, so I'm not sure why we are discussing that aspect.

I think that is quite wasteful and they don't even recycle go card. Imagine all that wasted and impact on the environment.
At least paper is biodegradable.

Not that I mean to sound uncaring about the environment, but consider the number of plastic coke bottles that would get tossed out on a daily basis in SEQ versus the number of 'lost' go cards under a 100% implementation. Both items have the same amount of plastic. I don't think its a big enough concern.

Swings and roundabouts I guess. Some negative environmental impact from tossed cards, versus the environmental impact of having trucks driving to Nambour and Varisty or whatever to pick up heavy loads of coins/ delivering rolls of translink branded ticket paper around the various points of network.

Sell a go card, that passenger is now transitioned, and they are set and won't be a hinderance again.

By transitioned, I mean once they actually have a go card, they are more likely to keep just using it and reloading it, it than pay extra for paper in the future.

So I still don't see what this likelihood of a passenger continuing to use a go card, when doing a PT trip, has to do with crap like vehicle time/waiting time etc.

[somebody]

^Simon, In another thread we discussed the idea of bus drivers all having a stack of go cards, held together by a world class rubber band.
I thought it was an axiom that to get rid of paper you'd need to have go cards as readily available as paper is currently, so I'm not sure why we are discussing that aspect.

You'd certainly need to, but I didn't see it included in the OP's proposal.

You'd also need to reverse the refusal to have top ups on BT buses.  I personally think that is unlikely, but you never know.

[#Metro]

I agree with Simon. I can only speak for me but there have been times where I've lost my wallet/misplaced stuff/blah and still got the bus. No big deal. I don't need a new go card every time I do that. What a waste!

And the whole thing misses the point- the whole idea is that stuff gets PRE-PAID not just change the material (paper to plastic) which the ticket price is printed on or encoded in. Having plastic cards on buses violates this principle. And it was put in already to speed things up. Now people are going to be fumbling for coins to pay for cards on buses. Is the GoCard going to be differentially priced on the bus too?

What's the point?

Not that I mean to sound uncaring about the environment, but consider the number of plastic coke bottles that would get tossed out on a daily basis in SEQ versus the number of 'lost' go cards under a 100% implementation. Both items have the same amount of plastic. I don't think its a big enough concern.

Swings and roundabouts I guess. Some negative environmental impact from tossed cards, versus the environmental impact of having trucks driving to Nambour and Varisty or whatever to pick up heavy loads of coins/ delivering rolls of translink branded ticket paper around the various points of network.

Disagree. Paper might only have to go to the depot. Simple. Go Card has to be transported everywhere.

By transitioned, I mean once they actually have a go card, they are more likely to keep just using it and reloading it, it than pay extra for paper in the future.

So I still don't see what this likelihood of a passenger continuing to use a go card, when doing a PT trip, has to do with crap like vehicle time/waiting time etc.

Just because you shove a go card in someone's hand doesn't magically convert them into a PT user. Its like giving away a swipe card to the rotten apple vending machine. If the product is cr*pola (i.e waiting time horrible, etc) then card or no card, they won't become a regular user.

[Gazza]

You'd certainly need to, but I didn't see it included in the OP's proposal.

Actually it was.

There are some issues in terms of availability of pre-loaded go cards and so forth, but put aside these concerns for now.

In other words, lets not get too caught up in that, because getting go cards out there is pretty simple.

But who cares, like I said we've spoken about go card only in the past in other threads, this is just a formal poll set up in a new thread by Bob. No need for deliberate amnesia on basics explained in the past, and bogging down the discussion in that matter.

How about every time you start a bus thread I ask you to re explain the importance of city stop locations every single time, for no other reason that you never mentioned it in that particular thread, and I feel like being a pain for the hell of it.
Wouldn't that be fun?

[Gazza]

Just because you shove a go card in someone's hand doesn't magically convert them into a PT user. Its like giving away a swipe card to the rotten apple vending machine. If the product is cr*pola (i.e waiting time horrible, etc) then card or no card, they won't become a regular user.

<Bangs head against wall>
Having a Go Card doesn't make them more likely to take PT, but it does make them more likely to not try to buy a 2nd card, when the time comes to actually make a trip again.
How about you read my earlier post carefully.

By transitioned, I mean once they actually have a go card, they are more likely to keep just using it and reloading it, it than pay extra for paper in the future.

So I still don't see what this likelihood of a passenger continuing to use a go card, when doing a PT trip, has to do with crap like vehicle time/waiting time etc.

when doing a PT trip

when doing

Get it yet?

Where did I ever say "If people have a go card, they will use PT heaps in the future"?

And the whole thing misses the point- the whole idea is that stuff gets PRE-PAID not just change the material (paper to plastic) which the ticket price is printed on or encoded in. Having plastic cards on buses violates this principle. And it was put in already to speed things up. Now people are going to be fumbling for coins to pay for cards on buses. Is the GoCard going to be differentially priced on the bus too?

Actually its you that misses the point. In say the first year you'd have people buying go cards instead of paper.
But once the population all has go cards, then they have no reason to buy another, unless they lose it (like anyone really).

The rate of transactions on buses would look like this.


Its high initially because when the system is first brought in you'd have a rush of luddites/sorta infrequent users etc getting their first go card ever.
Week by week, less and less people need to do this, because they are part of the go card family and the family is getting bigger and bigger
Eventaully, it reaches a point where drivers carrying cards would basically be just for show because very very few actually need to make the initial purchase.
Eventually The only people in SEQ without go cards would be those who refuse to set foot on PT ever.
In the end, the rate of go card sales on buses flatlines, because it would only be
-Vistors making their first boarding on PT in Brisbane, that happens to be a bus.
-People getting their first adult go card, and choosing to do this on a bus.

Lets take a visitor. They might do 6 trips on the bus during their visit.

6 delaying Paper ticket transactions.

Under this new system:
One initial purchase on the first bus of the card causing delay, then no more because they can re use it..

Another case: A infrequent user of PT that might use it once per month.

12 delaying Paper ticket transactions per year.

One initial purchase on the first bus of the card causing delay, then no more because they can re use it..

[dwb]

Actually, wouldn't that just slow the entire bus down again, instead of selling paper they are selling
plastic? What's the point? Sell them elsewhere - woolies and coles!

The point is that people who are in the burbs not near Woolies or a 711 or a railway/busway station need some ticketing option that is not organised the day before... they either need paper or an onboard solution. It is that simple.

[dwb]

I was referring to this comment --->

Sell a go card, that passenger is now transitioned, and they are set and won't be a hinderance again.

Transitioned in payment method, not mode of transport...

Most people aren't going to throw a card out with value on it still no matter how infrequently they use PT... what we need to do is convince them to keep it in their wallet for next time... but that doesn't negate the need to have some purchase at point of boarding option for new/churned users to the system (there are millions of them and we need to do everything we can to stop preventing their access).

[dwb]

I was referring to this comment --->

Sell a go card, that passenger is now transitioned, and they are set and won't be a hinderance again.

Transitioned in payment method, not mode of transport...

Most people aren't going to throw a card out with value on it still no matter how infrequently they use PT... what we need to do is convince them to keep it in their wallet for next time... but that doesn't negate the need to have some purchase at point of boarding option for new/churned users to the system (there are millions of them and we need to do everything we can to stop preventing their access).

Sorry, I've now read all the posts and realise I was a bit late to the game, but TT you really need to read other peoples' posts better, these things were clearly spoken about.

[Derwan]

I've got a better idea.

Update the system to allow the use of payWave / PayPass cards (as per the trials in the US).

Virtually EVERY card (debit and credit) issued now has payWave or PayPass.  No need to purchase Go Cards!  You already have the payment method in your wallet!

(Not sure how this would all work, requesting refunds, etc.  But it'd be great if it could be implemented!)

[#Metro]

How would you code in a seniors/concession and how would TO's check?

[dwb]

I've got a better idea.

Update the system to allow the use of payWave / PayPass cards (as per the trials in the US).

Virtually EVERY card (debit and credit) issued now has payWave or PayPass.  No need to purchase Go Cards!  You already have the payment method in your wallet!

(Not sure how this would all work, requesting refunds, etc.  But it'd be great if it could be implemented!)

How do you program a zonal system into this? How to you do tag offs?

Might work for a flat fare tourist product, but seems overly complicated to me...

[somebody]

How do you program a zonal system into this? How to you do tag offs?

Might work for a flat fare tourist product, but seems overly complicated to me...

Exactly what I was wondering.

The point is that people who are in the burbs not near Woolies or a 711 or a railway/busway station need some ticketing option that is not organised the day before... they either need paper or an onboard solution. It is that simple.

That's exactly right.  Personally, I see top ups and/or go card sales on board BT buses as not happening any time soon.  Hence, keeping paper makes sense.  Although if you can get the union to agree to such a system, I'd support it.

[dwb]

The point is that people who are in the burbs not near Woolies or a 711 or a railway/busway station need some ticketing option that is not organised the day before... they either need paper or an onboard solution. It is that simple.

That's exactly right.  Personally, I see top ups and/or go card sales on board BT buses as not happening any time soon.  Hence, keeping paper makes sense.  Although if you can get the union to agree to such a system, I'd support it.

I don't see why BT couldn't have a "guard" based in the CBD who could collect excess cash off them in the city... or a little safe that the driver can only deposit into and not withdraw... there are ways around this, but broadly I agree Simon, keeping paper isn't such a hassle in the meantime, I'm just sad that we're missing all these "go conversion" opportunities - each and every sale of a single ticket should be an opp for Translink (via QR/BT/Logan etc) to sell you go card! If it were offered consistently the naysayers would eventually switch... its about transition really! I always thought they should have done distribution on buses when Go card launched via  a conductor... if the system had been able to cope I think they could have gotten to 60% usage within 2 wks!

[Gazza]

I actually agree with Derwan in a way, but I'm not sure if the go card readers are the same technical standard, and it's probably a bit soon to be transitioning to a new system. Maybe in 10 (?) years when paywave etc is in 100% of shops (Its adoption is still pretty patchy) and Go Card needs replacement?

They way I imagine it, anybody with a 'special' ticketing need would use a card issued by the ticketing system operator....Identical to a credit card in all respects, except the travel credit is held by the ticketing system operators accounts, not by their own bank.
But The vast majority of adult passengers however would use a card issued by their own financial institution, and their own funds.

The advantage of this approach is that you would get visa/mastercard/other institutions etc to bear the cost of readers, transaction processing, equipment redundancy and so forth.

New York has been trialling pay pass payment on ticket barriers. Though of course, they are flat fare, so its easier.

I sort of wonder if Sydney is even going down the right track with Opal card?....They are coming in at a time when the trend actually is that smart cards will be a common thing in every day society, and conventional PT smart card systems are getting a bit old in tech terms . If they say just held off for a couple of years, paywave might be so common by then that they can just hit the ground running, and move from having the worst ticketing system, to the best and most advanced.

Re how touch on and offs work. Would it be a $10 "hold" on your account (A bit like a check in deposit for a hotel room) which gets adjusted upon touch off.
Enforcement is another issue to be considered.
Its gonna require some big changes in terms of how financial institutions actually process stuff, and it would never work unless they really reduce processing fees, but it's definitely not technically impossible, and I reckon its gonna happen in the future. Probably not now though.

Most people aren't going to throw a card out with value on it still no matter how infrequently they use PT... what we need to do is convince them to keep it in their wallet for next time... but that doesn't negate the need to have some purchase at point of boarding option for new/churned users to the system (there are millions of them and we need to do everything we can to stop preventing their access).

Exactly! People need to stop thinking short term.

A paper ticket for an infrequent user must be bought every single time, per pax, and they'll keep on doing it because they don't like change, don't realise the benefits, and will do what they always have done. We'll be stuck at roughly 20% paper usage for many years potentially.

Switching to plastic means one purchase, per pax. Then never again. The idea is to basically force their hand on the matter. They've boarded the bus, we've stuck the card in their hand, at minimal cost ($1). What choice do they have?  They can reload for their next trip, or they can buy a new go card again next time. Pretty sure everyone will go for option 1.

I think each new card would be in a little package that has a small folded sheet with go card usage 101. The package is thin enough so the initial activation can be done by the driver without unwrapping it.

So TT, why is that so hard to understand?

Don't try and make it sound as if it's 1 for 1, paper to plastic like you were trying to do earlier.
What? Like as if an infrequent user would buy a go card every single time and the overall rate of bus transactions over the years remains constant, which is a stupid thing to think.
Obviously as more of the population is forced onto go card then the number of initial sales of cards drops and drops and drops.

Re the drop box for cash collected on buses. This was my thoughts too. On buses in the US, you don't get change. All the coins and notes fall into the farebox, which gets unlocked and emptied at the end of the shift. Its a pillar type thing, often with an integrated smart card reader, bolted to the floor.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't see why BT couldn't have a "guard" based in the CBD who could collect excess cash off them in the city... or a little safe that the driver can only deposit into and not withdraw... there are ways around this, but broadly I agree Simon, keeping paper isn't such a hassle in the meantime, I'm just sad that we're missing all these "go conversion" opportunities - each and every sale of a single ticket should be an opp for Translink (via QR/BT/Logan etc) to sell you go card! If it were offered consistently the naysayers would eventually switch... its about transition really! I always thought they should have done distribution on buses when Go card launched via  a conductor... if the system had been able to cope I think they could have gotten to 60% usage within 2 wks!

MONEY BUS!

[#Metro]

Exactly! People need to stop thinking short term.

A paper ticket for an infrequent user must be bought every single time, per pax, and they'll keep on doing it because they don't like change, don't realise the benefits, and will do what they always have done. We'll be stuck at roughly 20% paper usage for many years potentially.

Switching to plastic means one purchase, per pax. Then never again. The idea is to basically force their hand on the matter. They've boarded the bus, we've stuck the card in their hand, at minimal cost ($1). What choice do they have?  They can reload for their next trip, or they can buy a new go card again next time. Pretty sure everyone will go for option 1.

I think each new card would be in a little package that has a small folded sheet with go card usage 101. The package is thin enough so the initial activation can be done by the driver without unwrapping it.

So TT, why is that so hard to understand?

Don't try and make it sound as if it's 1 for 1, paper to plastic like you were trying to do earlier.
What? Like as if an infrequent user would buy a go card every single time and the overall rate of bus transactions over the years remains constant, which is a stupid thing to think.
Obviously as more of the population is forced onto go card then the number of initial sales of cards drops and drops and drops.

Re the drop box for cash collected on buses. This was my thoughts too. On buses in the US, you don't get change. All the coins and notes fall into the farebox, which gets unlocked and emptied at the end of the shift. Its a pillar type thing, often with an integrated smart card reader, bolted to the floor.

I'm allowed to have my own opinion, and my opinion is that paper should stay and be priced differentially.
My opinion is also that plastic cards would be better off sold at busway stations and retailers than on buses. I'm happy to be "wrong" and I'm happy to disagree.
I don't want to buy another go card every time I forget my main card at home, I don't need a card if I'm only an infrequent user.

The Queensland Government had the option earlier this year to go to an all card system- they did. And they announced  that paper would be retained. So there's
got to be some reason why they chose that (other than "they're just all stupid" because they don't agree with you).

There also has to be some thought as to why someone would not get a go card when they could but would happily pay a higher penalty fare for
using paper. Perhaps those people should be asked why they stick to paper and not get a card when there already is a differential.

[#Metro]

Not my problem if I don't agree with you... take your issues to TL and find out why they made the decision they did!

http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/70524.aspx

October 29, 2010

TransLink's paper ticketing option for bus and rail users in southern Queensland will stay in 2011, but the price will rise by 15 percent from mid-January.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan says the single trip paper ticket will be retained for infrequent users and tourists to easily access public transport.

"We've listened to the Community Reference Group, tourists and infrequent users who have told us they would prefer to be able to purchase a single trip ticket at a station or on-board a bus or ferry, rather than an alternative Go Card," Nolan says.

"It's a model that is working successfully on other public transport networks, including in London and Perth."

Nolan says the Queensland Government will provide incentives for senior and pensioner groups who prefer to use public transport several times on one or two days a week rather than travelling every day.

"Many seniors and pensioners rely on public transport as a convenient way to travel," she says.

"Those using a maroon seniors or green pension Go Card will pay for the first two journeys they take in a day and then Go Card will allow them to travel for free for the remainder of the day."

For every dollar a commuter pays in fares, the Queensland Government currently pays $3 to keep public transport affordable, says Nolan.

"Public transport in south-east Queensland has changed significantly in recent years," she says.

"We have grown patronage by more than 50 per cent, and we have integrated ticketing, more buses, more trains, more busways, new railway lines, new and upgraded stations."

Nolan says the changes will enable the Queensland Government to continue its rollout of services to meet growing demand and the challenges of population growth.

"The government will continue to provide additional funding for public transport with a record budget of $1.4 billion committed in the current year."

This funding, combined with keeping the paper ticket, will add another 305,000 seats to the network over the next year, Nolan claims.

"This is all about getting more people to make the switch from private vehicles as part of our push to double public transport use over the next 20 years."

[dwb]

The Queensland Government had the option earlier this year to go to an all card system- they did. And they announced  that paper would be retained. So there's
got to be some reason why they chose that (other than "they're just all stupid" because they don't agree with you).

There also has to be some thought as to why someone would not get a go card when they could but would happily pay a higher penalty fare for
using paper. Perhaps those people should be asked why they stick to paper and not get a card when there already is a differential.

For a LOT of people it is simply they don't know about or understand the alternative... and I bet many of them don't realise it is cheaper to use go card... I'm thinking Mike O'Connor type people here. If only that damn QR guy had been a better customer service officer he would have recommended Mike get a go card, save money, save time and hassle. Had he done that, rather than b(tching about how Translink have it wrong and expensive, the article may have come out slightly different

[dwb]

They way I imagine it, anybody with a 'special' ticketing need would use a card issued by the ticketing system operator....Identical to a credit card in all respects, except the travel credit is held by the ticketing system operators accounts, not by their own bank.
But The vast majority of adult passengers however would use a card issued by their own financial institution, and their own funds.

The advantage of this approach is that you would get visa/mastercard/other institutions etc to bear the cost of readers, transaction processing, equipment redundancy and so forth.

It also means you have to pay Visa 10% of everything!

[Derwan]

It also means you have to pay Visa 10% of everything!

Try 0.385% (MasterCard) or 0.44% (Visa).

http://www.mastercard.com/au/merchant/en/rba/index.html
http://www.visa-asia.com/ap/au/mediacenter/factsheets/interchange.shtml

[dwb]

It also means you have to pay Visa 10% of everything!

Try 0.385% (MasterCard) or 0.44% (Visa).

http://www.mastercard.com/au/merchant/en/rba/index.html
http://www.visa-asia.com/ap/au/mediacenter/factsheets/interchange.shtml

That is the interchange fee that is regulated to be below 0.5% by RBA... it is not the merchant fee.

[Derwan]

That is the interchange fee that is regulated to be below 0.5% by RBA... it is not the merchant fee.

So what's the merchant fee?  I know it's nowhere near 10%.

[ozbob]

STB has reported that go card information was being handed out by a bus driver to pax buying paper tickets today on a bus he was on.

Be interesting to know if this was a driver initiative or the commencement of a wider campaign.  We can only hope ...

[ozbob]

I think by the middle of 2012 go card penetration will be greater than 90% for all trips.  I understand a campaign will be done on the Sunshine Coast to get pax onto go card as well.  This region is one of the lowest go card trip rates of all.

Once the trips on go card are > 95% across the board,  I think it is inevitable that paper will go.

[somebody]

That is the interchange fee that is regulated to be below 0.5% by RBA... it is not the merchant fee.

So what's the merchant fee?  I know it's nowhere near 10%.

I think it's about 1.5%, so long as you don't use paper.  Then they sting you about 5%.

[dwb]

STB has reported that go card information was being handed out by a bus driver to pax buying paper tickets today on a bus he was on.

Be interesting to know if this was a driver initiative or the commencement of a wider campaign.  We can only hope ...

Thanks interesting OzBob and probably something we've overlooked... just education for those still buying paper singles at point of sale... ie on the ticket face and reverse why doesn't it tell you go card is cheaper, what it is and how to get one?

Also I think Translink needs to start thinking along the lines of "Would you like fries with that?"... "Would you prefer a Go card, it is cheaper and will save you carrying coins?"

[dwb]

I think by the middle of 2012 go card penetration will be greater than 90% for all trips.  I understand a campaign will be done on the Sunshine Coast to get pax onto go card as well.  This region is one of the lowest go card trip rates of all.

Once the trips on go card are > 95% across the board,  I think it is inevitable that paper will go.

Let's hope they do it over Christmas when fares are free. that way they might actually capture a bunch of non-normal users!

[BrizCommuter]

I've got a better idea.

Update the system to allow the use of payWave / PayPass cards (as per the trials in the US).

Virtually EVERY card (debit and credit) issued now has payWave or PayPass.  No need to purchase Go Cards!  You already have the payment method in your wallet!

(Not sure how this would all work, requesting refunds, etc.  But it'd be great if it could be implemented!)

How do you program a zonal system into this? How to you do tag offs?

Might work for a flat fare tourist product, but seems overly complicated to me...

Surely it would work the same way as the go card, just the account is different. London is planning on introducing a RFID credit/debit card payment system soon. Oyster was just temporary.

[Gazza]

I'm allowed to have my own opinion

Its cool that you have your right to an opinion (like anybody),
But your assertions about paper v plastic being one and the same over time, and transitioning payment type versus transitioning transport mode were still incorrect, because, not reading others posts properly has nothing to do with your right to an opinion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_entitled_to_my_opinion

The Queensland Government had the option earlier this year to go to an all card system- they did. And they announced  that paper would be retained. So there's
got to be some reason why they chose that (other than "they're just all stupid" because they don't agree with you).

Re the media releases and the governments decision. The answer is simple, it was the path of least resistance.
Its the whingey types that refuse to adopt go card out of principle, because they don't like change, perceived unreliability etc that would jump up and down most if made to change. Obviously for these people, self interest is the primary thing, not what is good for the system as a whole.  (people tend to move towards benefits and away from disbenefits yada yada yada before you quote that)
They would make a lot of noise, proposal gets quietly dropped.
The Go Card reference group (Presumably where this decision came) is kind of stacked with older folk, hence the outcome.
Its the same syndrome that sees useless train stations stay open, bus routes not changing for fear of upsetting Beryl Jones at number 53, retention of archaic practices etc etc.

Re merchant fees for credit cards...Its roughly 1.5% right, since that is what Aldi etc pass on to customers.

Im happy to wait a little while. When Metcard goes Myki will be plastic only, so it will be a good experiment to see how it goes. Already they have taken steps to slash the cost of the card to $6. Give it another 12 months, and it could well be lower again.

Currently 77% of votes support $1 Go cards.

[dwb]

Im happy to wait a little while. When Metcard goes Myki will be plastic only, so it will be a good experiment to see how it goes. Already they have taken steps to slash the cost of the card to $6. Give it another 12 months, and it could well be lower again.

Currently 77% of votes support $1 Go cards.

"Slashed the cost to $6"...? That is the card issue fee right? The fee that in Qld is currently set at $5 but waived. Cards here are free, you just pay a deposit. This $1 thing is a sidetrack and not a useful one.... we already get the card for less than one dollar, we get it free, doesn't anyone get that?? You need the deposit so that people can board when they have "10c" on their account... it is an artificial way to set zero so that people recharge in time/before they run out of cash, it means nothing, it is refundable... give back the card get back the $5.... why are we still going on about this???

[ozbob]

The Go Card reference group (Presumably where this decision came) is kind of stacked with older folk, hence the outcome.

Wrong assumption, the go card reference group was very supportive of improvements to the go card fare structure and increasing the penetration of the go card, and had a significant impact on the community education campaigns.

The outcome was not what the go card CRG had debated at length.  The outcome was determined by the limitations of the present go card system.  The go card CRG members were very surprised with the fare structure changes.

[somebody]

Im happy to wait a little while. When Metcard goes Myki will be plastic only, so it will be a good experiment to see how it goes. Already they have taken steps to slash the cost of the card to $6. Give it another 12 months, and it could well be lower again.

Currently 77% of votes support $1 Go cards.

"Slashed the cost to $6"...? That is the card issue fee right? The fee that in Qld is currently set at $5 but waived. Cards here are free, you just pay a deposit. This $1 thing is a sidetrack and not a useful one.... we already get the card for less than one dollar, we get it free, doesn't anyone get that?? You need the deposit so that people can board when they have "10c" on their account... it is an artificial way to set zero so that people recharge in time/before they run out of cash, it means nothing, it is refundable... give back the card get back the $5.... why are we still going on about this???

I'm sure what is proposed is reducing the deposit to $1.  Seems to open something of a loophole.