This Crazy Train's Presto Chronicles, Chapter 7: Like hell you're gonna tell me where to get off

From: Tom W
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:14:48 +0000
To: cj@thiscrazytrain.com

Subject: Of Presto and default trips

While waiting in the ticket line at Union, a woman in front of me was obtaining a Presto card.

Turns out she travels from Station A to Union in the morning, and back to Station B in the afternoon. Trouble was, the guy behind the counter was insisting she had to set a default trip for her card, which only works if you travel back to your starting point each day. So, I went up to her and let her know she didn't have to set a default trip set if she didn't want one - I don't have one on mine - and then went back to my place in the queue.

The guy behind the counter then explained that she would have to tap on and off for every journey, which she was fine with.

What bugs me is that the guy behind the counter clearly knew you are *not* required to have a default trip, because he was able to explain the consequences thereof - so why was he trying to force the woman to have a feature that obviously wouldn't work for her?

So, public information announcement: If you don't want a default trip set on your Presto card, you are not required to have one.

(NB: Default trips won't even be possible for trips involving GO buses.)

Regards,
Tom W