Comments on: For the right price, unlimited cards could stay that way

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:28:05 +0000

Heavy usage is not fraud. There’s nothing fraudulent about taking 91 rides in a month on a card that’s advertised as unlimited.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:26:15 +0000

Among unlimited card users, you’re probably at the low end. They’re priced to be only marginally attractive to people who use them primarily for commuting twice a day, five days a week, with only a few side trips.

Extraordinary users, as you term them, don’t actually cost the system much more than you do. It’s those rush hour trips that cost the most to provide, and they’re not taking any more of them than you are.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:22:41 +0000

Or keep the 18-minute limit for the second swipe but jack it up to an hour or two for every swipe after that.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:21:44 +0000

Presumably, the capped version would show the number of rides remaining on the turnstile display, so nobody would be caught by surprise.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:08:14 +0000

It’s relevant because with unlimited cards, and only with unlimited cards, POP opens up the possibility of swipe-free riding.

The part where some people use the trains a lot is one negative consequence, you’re right. That said, the MTA does not consider reduced ridership as a consequence, which means that it assumes every heavy user will keep using the system a lot even if the monthly card has a limit; this means that the actual difference to you may be much less than $5, as the fare will need a further hike with a limit to account for reduced usage.

By: rhywun

rhywun — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:54:13 +0000

I’m talking about some negative unintended consequences I see with unlimited rides. How is POP relevant?

By: In a four-year plan, fare hikes and labor concessions abound :: Second Ave. Sagas

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:35:21 +0000

[...] package of fare hikes in October. The authority will decide, based upon public input, whether to limited the unlimiteds or simply raise the fares a few dollars more. Only around three percent of all subway riders exceed [...]

By: wayne's world

wayne's world — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:29:42 +0000

I’d go with the limited as I can’t imaging using more than 22 rides in a week….though it is more confusing.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:14:28 +0000

If the MTA ever goes around to implementing POP on the buses, without American wheel reinventions, you won’t be subsidizing anyone with an unlimited ride; you’ll be a participant in a system that makes bus service tolerable.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:10:50 +0000

The cost of a subway ride may be the factor that determines whether someone rides the trains or takes taxis.