The Very Un-fare Myki

David Heath
Tuesday, 27 May 2008 05:32

Your IT - Home IT

Last week was the 10th anniversary of the termination of conductors on the trams.  How fitting that such an event would so closely coincide with the tossing of additional pot-loads of OUR MONEY at a hideously expensive technical replacement for them.

I'm a technologist at heart.  As such, I'm all in favour of technical solutions to problems.  WHEN THEY ADD VALUE OVER A MANUAL SYSTEM.  This one doesn't.  Weirdly, it will cost over a BILLION DOLLARS to replicate a manual system.

Huh?  Run that by me again???  The sole and only purpose of the Myki is to replicate a manual system, and it will cost over $1B to do so???

Reminds me of an old quote... “never mind the quality, feel the width.”

OK, considering the conductor-based system, let's consider the 'progress' we're making with the technical Mickey (sorry, Myki).

1. With the Myki, patrons can anonymously purchase tickets.
 
 That's a good thing, right?  Actually, in  effect, they can't.  If travellers are a concession-holder (student, disabled, low income etc) or any user who wants to be able to 'own' the stored value on their card, they must register.  Non-registered owners 'bequeath' the value to whoever steals the card.

2. The Myki reduces unpaid travel.

 Ummm... no.  When there are no conductors, anyone wanting a free ride is at the mercy of the transit cops.  Here's a hint everyone, the likelihood of inspectors is inversely proportional to the socio-economic status of the END-POINT of the tram ride.  As evidence, for 1 month I rode the 75 tram to work; on a significant number of journeys I was accosted by the inspectors.  In that one month, my record was three inspections on a single journey.  I then relocated 'upmarket' and began using the 48 tram.  I'm quite confident that I've not yet seen in over two years (in total) as many inspectors as I saw on the 75 in one month.  Fortune favours the rich, as they say.

A variety of other research I've seen suggests that between 5% and 50% (great data, huh!) of all journeys are unpaid.  I'll accept that the 50% figure is absurd and is probably based on observation that the majority of evening travellers don't validate their Metcard – most of who are holders of daily or longer-period tickets and simply can't be bothered.  After-all – why?   Validation isn't for their benefit.

There is nothing in the Myki design that changes any of this.  Never-mind the absurd swipe-on, swipe-off horse-exhaust, which I've discussed previously.

3. The Myki assists tourism.

 Uh huh.  When was the last time a smart card was able to tell a foreign tourist the history of Flinders Street Station?  Or any other useful information??

Better, I have yet to hear how the system will manage pay-upon-boarding tickets.  Everything I've seen suggests it won't be possible.  the tourists will be clambering over each-other to be involved.