Reduce the use of faresaver and replace it with a resuable and reloadable card.
Instead of wasting paper on faresaver cards, why not use a plastic card that resembles like a credit card that you never have to throw out. Then you can reload it with as much money as you want on the card, either online or at a store. Also, you can put an option of reloading the card with a "virtual" bus pass, so you can get on the bus as many times as you want during that whole month that you chose to pay for.
Then on the bus, you'll just have to scan it and the machine will recognize it.
And before entering the skytrain there should be a machine that will scan the card.
But there should always be the option of bringing money on the bus/skytrain and buying a faresaver for a one time use.
That way, we will reduce the waste of paper by a lot.
emkazicstan
shared this idea
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Janine Brossard
commented
Great idea. No need to use paper anymore.
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NOTE: the Vancouver Design Nerds's idea "Paperless bus tickets" has been merged with this one.
"Instead of receiving a paper bus ticket stub, create a digital system with card readers on busses. These cards, refillable online, could also work in retailers that reside near bus stops."
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BrentGordyB
commented
love it. Please let me load a card with money instead of having to worry about buying a lovely book of tickets or worrying about having proper change since they don't give change back...
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cmo
commented
We have these back home in Brisbane. The users of such cards get transit at a discounted rate. Another advantage is that it speeds up the loading of passengers onto the bus. There are still paper tickets too for those who rarely use the system, e.g. tourists.
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Vancouver Design Nerds
commented
Here's the video for this idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecaQ2EK2soUAnd the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouverdesignnerds/sets/72157624989276810/This idea was developed within a breakout group on Sept 17, 2010 at the Design Nerd Jam 4.4 Greenest City event, hosted by the Vancouver Design Nerds, with food sponsored by the City of Vancouver.
More info on VDN: www.designnerds.ca
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NOTE: Jacob's idea "Oyster Card" has been merged with this one.
A principal barrier (and a source of paper waste) to accessing any transit network is the transaction cost associated with accessing the network.
Exact change, paper tickets available at select locations, single use bus passes, point of purchase on the bus itself, all create significant "non-tarriff" barriers to transit use. Let's get an Oyster Card (or how about a T-Card) system in place ASAP.
Bonus idea: Create an ECO-VIP Card. Team up with BC Hydro's smart meters and give the most frequent transit users and efficient energy users 'Eco-Star' discounts at green retailers.
