One of the most frustrating issues I see, both as a driver of Sound Transit routes and as a passenger, are the delays created by accepting cash payment on the bus. Even the most thoughtful and organized passengers can cause delays by inserting multiple $1 bills or small coins, into the fare box. To see exactly what I am describing, watch a 550 unload at any of the busier stops in Bellevue. The delays can be especially noticeable on a busy weekend when there are more passengers paying with cash.
I urge Sound Transit to study and implement ways to further reduce cash payment including:
. Have the next fare increase be for cash payment only. ORCA users will use current fare structure
. Offer a $.25 discount for ORCA payment
. Provide more outreach to non-English speaking customers about ORCA, how to get one, and how to use it
. Adopt Metro’s RapidRide off-bus payment system, either for the entire route or for selected high-volume areas.
. Provide change machines that dispense quarters and $1 coins at high volume locations. These would allow passengers who need change to get it easily and dollar coins coupled with quarters are almost as fast to use for payment as ORCA passes are.
. Partner with Coinstar to load change onto and/or distribute ORCA cards.
With the discontinuation of the Ride Free Area coming, it is even more urgent for Sound Transit to look at ways to reduce or speed cash payment. Please consider these ideas to keep buses moving and leverage the limited transit funding that we have.
Thank you,
The VeloBusDriver
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As part of my job as a bus driver, I often watch passengers work feverishly to unjam my fare box after they have attempted to stuff a month’s worth of pennies into it. Since I tend to choose busy routes, there is inevitably a long line of impatient passengers behind them watching too. Anybody who pays attention to my Twitter feed knows I prefer passengers use an ORCA card and that I can get kind of snarky about it. While not perfect, paying with an ORCA card is much faster and gives the user a 2 hour transfer on service provided Sound Transit, Metro, Pierce Transit, and Community Transit. ORCA really is the way to pay for public transportation in the greater Seattle area.
But what about all those pennies, nickels, and dimes you have kicking around? You may already know about Coinstar machines, located at many local grocery stores, that can automatically count all of your change, for a 9.8% fee. But you may not know that Coinstar allows you to convert those same coins into eCertificates and gift cards for Amazon.com, Apple’s iTunes, Starbucks Coffee, Albertson’s, and many other retailers without a counting fee. That’s right, at a Coinstar machine you can convert the mountain of coins that you’ve been holding onto for years into music, books, groceries, or jet fuel (aka Coffee). Just take at least $5 in coins to any Coinstar machine and follow the instructions to get an eCertificate or gift card that can be redeemed at your favorite retailer or web site.
So how about it? Why not give Coinstar a try?
Now, if we could just get the good people at orcacard.com to accept eCertificates, then you could convert ALL of your change into bus fare without jamming my fare box and with the added advantages that ORCA brings… Think of all the road calls to repair broken fare boxes Metro could save …
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[ Update 7/22/11: Well, it looks like I'm late to the party, again. The US Mint has stopped taking credit cards. Too bad a bunch of bad apples had to ruin this cool program for the rest of us. Either way, you can still order $1 coins from the US Mint and not be charged for shipping. The only extra cost will be for the stamp to mail your order form. I'd encourage anybody who still feels the need to pay with cash to do so as coins are *MUCH* faster to process. That said an ORCA card is still the way to go. ]
Do you pay your transit fare with cash? If so, would you like a discount, albeit a small one, for doing so?
The US Mint $1 Coin Direct Ship program allows you to purchase $1 coins on your credit card with free shipping. In addition, there is supposedly no cash withdraw fee as you would expect. Assuming you have a cash back or a frequent flyer miles reward card, you can purchase $1 coins to spend however you choose and pocket whatever benefits your credit card gives you. Seem crazy? Since the Mint makes a “profit” of about $.70 per coin, it actually isn’t as crazy as it sounds especially since they are currently being forced to mint coins that nobody wants and pay to keep them safe in a vault.
If you’ve followed my comments on Seattle Transit Blog you know that I *hate* cash. Watching people feed $1 bills into my fare box takes up too much of my day and makes our transit system far less efficient than it could be. I’ve even been known to use scare tactics in this “war”. But for folks who are organized enough to order and use $1 coins, I’ll make an exception. Putting 4 coins (2 x $1 and 2 x .25) into the fare box is remarkably quick. Done properly, paying with coins is almost as fast as using an ORCA card. If you use the Orca card for convenience and the ability to transfer between Sound Transit and other agencies, all is not lost. The Sound Transit Ticket Vending Machines, where you can load your e-Purse, take $1 coins. Assuming the machines use the $1 coins for change, you may even be saving Sound Transit the effort of refilling the machines with $1 coins.
So how about it? Want to buy some $1 coins, earn frequent flyer miles, save the US Taxpayer some money, and make your bus driver happy? Head on over to the US Mint’s web site and buy some. I’ve ordered 250 and will be using them instead of going to the ATM. I’ll let you know how it goes and how many cashiers I annoy by paying entirely with coins.
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