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BMO
Senior Member
You could even just get PRESTO to put a student pass on your PRESTO card (after they verify that you go to UW or WLU, etc) and then the Presto card, when tapped, would not deduct any fare, but it would provide some useful statistical information for the transit system, in adjusting it's services. Using a PRESTO card, cannot be anymore difficult than using a student card. Half the time students forget their ID.
Markster
Senior Member
I can see GRT being very interested in getting the U-pass onto a smart card. There are a lot of unexpired student cards floating around out there giving people free bus passes.
royalrivers
Active Member
I'd like to point out that there are still several transit systems that have Presto now that still use the old "sticker on the student pass" system....
royalrivers
Active Member
Again to clarify, I said TTC, Kitchener and Guelph are reluctant to get TOTALLY on board (on all buses now, NOT JUST LRT and not in 2014) because it takes 3% of the revenue from already tight budgets where revenue is critical. GRT/Guelph don't get 70-80% at the farebox like TTC/GO Transit. The average in Ontario for municipal transit is more in the 50-60% range. Taking 3 % can/will be lot of dough gone on already slim revenue. If you include student riders (such as Guelph where half the transit ridership are students) it will cause the need for either cuts to servce, higher fares and / or more tax dollars.
nfitz
Superstar
As far as I understand, TTC and GRT are already on board fully (buses included). Guelph is the only agency that seems to have an issue.
And as far as I understand, the agencies are paying well more than 3% already in collection costs, and this is all relatively revenue neutral, other than start-up costs.
I think you are overplaying this argument, that only one very small transit agency seems to be making.
Also, didn't Guelph revamp their fare collection system not that long ago? This may simply have more to do with that than anything else. Toronto on the other hand was on the verge of revamping the fare collection system, but the new system got suspended when it became clear that Presto was coming to TTC.
doady
Senior Member
For students in Mississauga, the problem with Presto is that student fare is restricted to age 13 to 19, but for Mississauga Transit student fare it's any age. If I'm 20+ year old university/college student in Mississauga, no way I would use Presto. If Presto can't even be felexible enough to adopt a specific agency's fare policy, then it will be failure.
On the other hand, Presto seems to have force Mississauga Transit to hand out 2 hour transfers instead of the usual 75, 90, or 105 minute transfer. So that's good
On the other hand, Presto seems to have force Mississauga Transit to hand out 2 hour transfers instead of the usual 75, 90, or 105 minute transfer. So that's good
nfitz
Superstar
GO Transit also has discounts for post-secondary students. And their page for post-secondary students indicates that Presto is available. http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/fares/tickettypes.aspx
There's also discussion on how post-secondary students have GO Student IDs.
Surely, if you've got your Presto card set for GO to a student because you are post-secondary student, you'll get the student fare on Mississauga transit as well. This doesn't seem to be a Presto issue - perhaps it's a Mississauga Transit issue?
RedRocket191
Senior Member
Whereas each transit agency sets their own fare policies, including who qualifies as a student, this is indeed a Mississauga Transit problem. It's tremendously easy to blame PRESTO, every minute someone does that is a minute not lobbying Mississauga Transit to change their policies.
That may or may not have been hyperbole - more analysis is needed.
doady
Senior Member
I was going by what it says on Presto website. It says nothing about restrictions for post-secondary. It says clearly that student fare for Presto is limited to ages 13-19. Mississauga Transit does not restrict student fare to ages 13-19.
nfitz
Superstar
Clearly the information on the Metrolinx Presto site is out-of-date, or there wouldn't be extensive discussion on the Metrolinx Go Transit site on the procedures a post-secondary student takes to get their Presto card type changed to student.
This also means that if Mississauga Transit is not doing this, it's their choice, not Presto's. Presto's only issue is they haven't kept their site 100% current.
Has anyone actually tried to do this, or is this entirely a hypothetical debate?
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TOareaFan
Superstar
My daughter's Presto card carries student rates. She is, however, under 19 so not sure it answers anything.
royalrivers
Active Member
Talking UNIVERSITY students here, they are NOT included in Presto atm.
There is a rate for High School students as per Prestocard.ca: Students: 13 to 19 years of age inclusive. Enrolled as a full time student. Photo ID with birth date and proof of enrolment required.
There is a rate for High School students as per Prestocard.ca: Students: 13 to 19 years of age inclusive. Enrolled as a full time student. Photo ID with birth date and proof of enrolment required.
nfitz
Superstar
Yes they are. See Go Transit's page
Post-Secondary Student
Ticket Types Available
10-ride; Monthly pass, PRESTO
GO Student ID required
And also Go Transit's Presto page - www.gotransit.com/public/en/fares/presto.aspx where it clearly states that "Get your PRESTO card FREE* at GO stations! ... Post-secondary school students without a current 10-ride ticket or monthly pass may show their valid GO Transit Student ID to take advantage of this offer."
Presto's site is out of date.
RedRocket191
Senior Member
PRESTO supports students. It's up the the individual transit agency to define what a student is. PRESTO's site says what it says, but they don't set the policies - this individual transit agencies do.
If we're going to critique someone, lets critique them on how the service plays out in the real world - not on paper.
If we're going to critique someone, lets critique them on how the service plays out in the real world - not on paper.