Question for Londoners on Flist or Lurking

[shadowkat]

Apparently London is attempting to help NYC's MTA :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/23/new-york-london-subway-tube

Question to all the Londoners reading this and on my flist? How successful has the Oyster System been? And do you agree with the praises lauded in this article? Curious minds want to know.

[Poll #1727767]

Off-topic, just in case you wondered if it is possible to manipulate statistics? I've got proof, apparently there are software products that aid in data and statistical manipulation. Why do it yourself, when your computer can do it for you? (Google - SAS Systems - Statistical Manipulation or Data Manipulation.)

Comments

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I'm more surprised that NYC doesn't have electronic boards telling you when the next train is due. Seriously?

But yes, Oyster works great. My only real problem is that I live in the far south of London and my local station doesn't have Oyster readers installed, so even if I'm travelling up into town I still have to buy a paper ticket. But the local buses and tram system all take Oyster even if the train doesn't... huh?

You've been able to travel on any form of public transport in London with a single ticket for years, long before the system went electronic. With Oyster, the total you have to pay in a single day is capped as well regardless of how many journeys you make, which is great for tourists or shopping expeditions.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Oh, they have electronic boards at Penn Station, Long Island Railroad's Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica Station, and at some other stations here and there. Subways - depends on the station, I think there's a few here and there.

We are a 24/7 service. Is London - 24/7? It wasn't in the 1980s, but then in the 1980s you had zones, and paper tickets. So it may have changed. I remember having to take buses after midnight.
NYC has always been 24/7 - dating back to the 1960s, if not before. So this may be an issue regarding implementation.

Currently we all have metro-cards for subways/buses, with rail tickets for trains.

Did read an article in the London Times about the Oyster failing on occasion.