IT Systems Let Transport System Fail

[reneg8or]

In my city, we have a BRT or bus rapid transport system. Initially, we could pay cash on the bus for tickets. Then they introduced a debit card system, essentially a banking product, from Absa.


Absa seems to be contracted to provide the POS end of the system. There are endless problems with scanners malfunctioning, incorrect amounts being deducted and commuters are being unfairly treated.


It also affects tourism as the entire system is not friendly towards occasional passengers. Both local and foreign passengers get antagonised, some of the bus drivers or staff at bus stations belittle or berate passengers, etc.


For the record, this chaotic failure in service delivery is not in a ANC-governed region.


I would like to know whether it is even legal to refuse cash payments. As it is the IT backbone of the debit card system that creates the problem, my view is that cash payments should be allowed to ensure that passengers do not get left stranded, as is happening frequently, at night when it is unsafe. Some get stuck and cannot even get to a railway station.


People suffer badly as a result and also tourism suffers. We are so tired of the autocratic government style - not the ANC in this case - and the incompetence of a city to operate an effective public transport system.


They also target another bus service that had been operational since the late 1800's, by interfering with its operations directly and also via legal battles.


We as citizens are completely fed up with an incapable administration. Is there a way out of this mess?

 

[supersunbird]

Sounds like they needs a tag card system that you can either pay with cash, debit card or CC, like the gautrain. Would also be nice if you could topup your gautrain card over the internet.

 

[reneg8or]

Sounds like they needs a tag card system that you can either pay with cash, debit card or CC, like the gautrain. Would also be nice if you could topup your gautrain card over the internet.

I do not understand why they do not offer everything that you have suggested. That would have been the logical thing to do. They make use of 3rd party vendors who sell myconnect credit. These usually are off-line, don't have bus credit to sell, or the POS terminals are malfunctioning. Even to get to a place that can and does sell credit is a mission of some magnitude.

 

[Paul_S]

Sounds like they needs a tag card system that you can either pay with cash, debit card or CC, like the gautrain.

+1
I needed to use the Gautrain once and it was very convenient as an infrequent user, to just walk into a Spar and purchase a Gautrain prepaid card.
The nice thing with a tag/card system is that if there is no connectivity from a bus/train the scanner can just cache the data until it can be syncronized back to the payment system. No need to have a link to a bank.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

@OP why don't you just say its the Cape Town City MyCiti service

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

....

They also target another bus service that had been operational since the late 1800's, by interfering with its operations directly and also via legal battles.

...

Golden Arrow is funded by the government as its incapable of running at a profit. I've been using their service since the late 80's and there is nothing good about it. I went to Durban and saw how to run a proper bus service.

I use Golden Arrow everyday to commute from Somerset West to Cape Town and its was thanks to the City, not GABS, that we have the service. GABS management are up to **** and thats why the City will become more involved with management.

Sounds like you work for GABS

 

[Wyzak]

In my city, we have a BRT or bus rapid transport system. Initially, we could pay cash on the bus for tickets. Then they introduced a debit card system, essentially a banking product, from Absa.

Absa seems to be contracted to provide the POS end of the system. There are endless problems with scanners malfunctioning, incorrect amounts being deducted and commuters are being unfairly treated.

So in other words in works exactly like an Absa bank account?

 

[GoofySmurf]

In my city, we have a BRT or bus rapid transport system. Initially, we could pay cash on the bus for tickets. Then they introduced a debit card system, essentially a banking product, from Absa.


Absa seems to be contracted to provide the POS end of the system. There are endless problems with scanners malfunctioning, incorrect amounts being deducted and commuters are being unfairly treated.


It also affects tourism as the entire system is not friendly towards occasional passengers. Both local and foreign passengers get antagonised, some of the bus drivers or staff at bus stations belittle or berate passengers, etc.


For the record, this chaotic failure in service delivery is not in a ANC-governed region.


I would like to know whether it is even legal to refuse cash payments. As it is the IT backbone of the debit card system that creates the problem, my view is that cash payments should be allowed to ensure that passengers do not get left stranded, as is happening frequently, at night when it is unsafe. Some get stuck and cannot even get to a railway station.


People suffer badly as a result and also tourism suffers. We are so tired of the autocratic government style - not the ANC in this case - and the incompetence of a city to operate an effective public transport system.


They also target another bus service that had been operational since the late 1800's, by interfering with its operations directly and also via legal battles.


We as citizens are completely fed up with an incapable administration. Is there a way out of this mess?

Hi

I presume you aer talking about the Cape Town My City bus service. Im not sure what the issue is I have been using them for over a year and no problems with any cards. Its a simple system you purchase a card for R22 and then load money on to it, when you get into the bus or station you swipe the chip over the machine and its fine. The card can be used as a debit card as well and when you are done you can return the card and get your R22 back.

In over a year I have had no problems paying with this card and find it very convenient. Seeming we live in South Africa its much safer as well because there is no cash to steal by robber and you dont get overcharged by the people collecting the money.

When I first used the bus system they were on the ticket system and not knowing the costs of the trip they charged me R40 to get to the tableview station from tableview. When I asked about the price when I got at the terminal it seems its R10 all the way to town and by that time that bus was gone and money stolen.

If you have a problem with them phone the help line they are great, I took pictures of the overloaded buses one morning and a security guard tried to confiscate my phone, regardless I told him he will get hurt if he touches me but I laid a complaint against him and it was sorted about a week later. They even phoned me back to explain everything and tell me the outcome, their service is better than any company I have dealt with in South Africa.

 

[guest2013-1]

For the record, this chaotic failure in service delivery is not in a ANC-governed region.

There are certain things (like the BRT) that aren't controlled on a municipal level, but a national one. National is controlled by the government, and contrary to popular belief, the ANC still is the national power.

These BRT systems get tendered for, so in steps corporations. Combined with a government who doesn't give a **** as long as their cousin gets enriched through the contract, and ABSA (who can't deliver a service even if you ask it JUST to say "Hi" to people), you have this disaster.

Your best bet is to go to your local council and speak to the person in charge (usually the mayor) and get a sit-down with them and raise your concerns. They'll be able to tell you exactly what I just did now.

In the corporate world, greed overtakes quite easily. But bad service makes people go elsewhere and voting with your wallet is the best thing to do... that and word of mouth can bring companies to their knees.

 

[reneg8or]

There are certain things (like the BRT) that aren't controlled on a municipal level, but a national one. National is controlled by the government, and contrary to popular belief, the ANC still is the national power.

These BRT systems get tendered for, so in steps corporations. Combined with a government who doesn't give a **** as long as their cousin gets enriched through the contract, and ABSA (who can't deliver a service even if you ask it JUST to say "Hi" to people), you have this disaster.

Your best bet is to go to your local council and speak to the person in charge (usually the mayor) and get a sit-down with them and raise your concerns. They'll be able to tell you exactly what I just did now.

In the corporate world, greed overtakes quite easily. But bad service makes people go elsewhere and voting with your wallet is the best thing to do... that and word of mouth can bring companies to their knees.

I have exhausted all possible options before I came here.

 

[reneg8or]

Hi

I presume you aer talking about the Cape Town My City bus service. Im not sure what the issue is I have been using them for over a year and no problems with any cards. Its a simple system you purchase a card for R22 and then load money on to it, when you get into the bus or station you swipe the chip over the machine and its fine. The card can be used as a debit card as well and when you are done you can return the card and get your R22 back.

In over a year I have had no problems paying with this card and find it very convenient. Seeming we live in South Africa its much safer as well because there is no cash to steal by robber and you dont get overcharged by the people collecting the money.

When I first used the bus system they were on the ticket system and not knowing the costs of the trip they charged me R40 to get to the tableview station from tableview. When I asked about the price when I got at the terminal it seems its R10 all the way to town and by that time that bus was gone and money stolen.

If you have a problem with them phone the help line they are great, I took pictures of the overloaded buses one morning and a security guard tried to confiscate my phone, regardless I told him he will get hurt if he touches me but I laid a complaint against him and it was sorted about a week later. They even phoned me back to explain everything and tell me the outcome, their service is better than any company I have dealt with in South Africa.

Your trouble-free ride is quite exceptional. We see on a daily basis how tourists het shied away, how passengers see airport tariffs plus penalties get deducted for a trip that was supposed to have cost only R5-30. My own debit card went corrupt in between stations and I was treated like a criminal. So my wife and I walked all the way to the municipal HQ where we were promised that all would be well when the new system get implemented by April 1. It only worsened.

I have been with this up to Min Marthinus van Schalkwyk at National level after local and provincial govt did not seem too eager to resolve this.


So we have a system that angers tourists and locals alike. Best thing is not to use it at all. Thursday: someone from the municipality was traveling on the bus, asking commuters about their experiences. At least ten complained about the same issue.

 

[reneg8or]

It is a similar system that causes the hassles here. The card itself is unreliable as it goes corrupt easily.

 

[reneg8or]

With the exception, yes, that they don't know your identity and cash purchases are limited to R200 per transaction. No FICA, of course.