ACTION's MyWay card on it's way

Updated information has been released on the ACTION website http://www.action.act.gov.au/myway.html

“MyWay cards will be available to the community from mid-January 2011. … there will be a gradual withdrawal of pre-paid magnetic stripe tickets from sale.”

farnarkler: yes it’s like Oyster Card – you place the card on the reader as you tag on and off. (And you can leave it in your wallet while you do so.)

p1: still in early testing mode, so I don’t think it’s been used with any real volume. But it is (should be) exactly like Perth’s system – while theirs does occasionally take two attempts to tag off, as long as you are checking the screen when using it, you will know whether your tag off is successful or not. It will/should also beep for tag offs (tags off?)

Yes there will be a unit at the back door on buses which have a back door. All buses have now been fitted with the brackets onto which the readers will be installed – so you can see where the machines will be. Handy hint: even if the back door is not opened, you will still be able to use the back door validator to tag off as you approach your bus stop.

ML-585 said :

Just one thing to add – you MUST tag off after each bus journey for the correct fare to be charged. If you fail to tag off you may be charged an additional fee next time you tag on.

Has anyone actually used the ACT version yet? I am interested in how quick and consistent the reader unit it? I know some of the complaints about other cities implementation of this technology have revolved around them not reading particularly quickly, resulting in people not always managing to swipe off correctly in a rush, with a bunch of people pushing behind you.

Will the unit be fitted at the back door as well, or are those officially just emergency exits these days?

Is this a swipe system like those at supermarkets, where the card is swiped through a channel and has the magnetic strip read? If so, it’s not like London’s Oyster at all. The Oyster card isn’t swiped, it’s put on the reader pad for no more than a second and then beeps to confirm it’s been read.

Aeek said :

Can I transfer the balance from my 10 ride ticket? It took me 2 years to use the last one.

Yes. Refer to #14. But for a short time, both systems may be in operation.

Eirlys said :

But I think there are 2 main questions how does it work with spontaneous travel (rather then travelling to work every day) and short trips and 2 how much warning will they give us constant travellers before it starts to ensure we don’t waste money on monthlies, 10 trips or weeklies. Given their history of bad communication I don’t hold out much hope.

It will use the current fare structure (sort of). There will not be any “short trip” fares, just the current flat fare with built-in transfer. Not quite sure what question 2 is asking — it works as a stored value card and determines the best fare by itself. Unlike Melbourne’s myki where you have to choose what type of ticket you want (periodical pass vs stored value), MyWay is a stored value card with a fare cap built in. So on any day, you won’t exceed the daily ticket value and in a given month, you won’t exceed the monthly ticket value.

Just one thing to add – you MUST tag off after each bus journey for the correct fare to be charged. If you fail to tag off you may be charged an additional fee next time you tag on.

If you have any further questions, please post them here or have a look at http://actbus.net/forum

Solving the teenager and pensioner problem is simple. Once the system has been in place for 6 months cash fares become 5 bucks no matter what, with no pensioner or student discounts availible. Then no one can mess with coins and there is a good incentive to look into the card.

To get a student or pensioner discount people will need to use the swipe card. Pensioners should be issued the card free if they ask for it and teenagers can simply learn. It will not take long once the system is in. During the implemetation everyone with who asks for a pensioner/student fare can be issued with a flyer explaning what is coming.

I just hope the stupid ACT government would extend the card to being able to also pay for parking at the outer town centres when being used in a “Park and ride” type scenario.

Hell put the system in taxis as well and it can be the comlete flexible canberra travel solution. Therefore saving my precious change for important things like coffee and fundraiser chocolates. Oh and if action is listening i will pay a $20 premium if i can pick the design on my card 🙂

Can I transfer the balance from my 10 ride ticket? It took me 2 years to use the last one.

The ACTION My Way system is being implemented by the same company who installed the system in Perth & they had minimal issues.

I’ve been using the Perth based system on and off for a while and it works well. You buy a plastic card for a nominal fee and then deposit credit on the card (cash, EFT of direct debit). it’s all easy.

Jungle Jim said :

If it’s anything like the Oyster system in London, then I reckon it’s a great idea.

Which is why it wont be anything like it. Has the act gov ever copied an idea and gotten it right? They’ll take the best bits of several different systems, throw them together, wonder why it doesnt work, change the systems for a year or two, then realise they were better off with bits of paper, printed with the date and maybe a magstripe on the back.

excession said :

Swipe -what-? There hasn’t been any word on what token is being used, or how it’s purchased/recharged, and your (blurry) picture is the only information I’ve seen on the soon to be introduced ticketing system.

BTW, there are no ‘twenty ride’ tickets, it’s ten ride, weekly, or monthly (or school term tickets), so you’re a little bit out of the loop with your accusations of incompetence.

Have you been to the Action website? Clearly not, if you had of you would see some info about the new system and what is currently happening with the rollout.