Paying for Public Transportation?
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:33 AM
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Paying for Public Transportation?
Everytime I go to Europe, I diligently buy my subway/bus/vaporetto tickets. I have NEVER been asked to produce a ticket by a conductor, nor have I ever seen anyone else asked.<BR><BR>It also seems that many of the locals (especially in Italy), don't bother with tickets.<BR><BR>Does anyone "sneak" onto public transportation abroad? Has anyone ever been caught? <BR><BR>Just wondering...<BR><BR>Coachboy
Apr 3rd, 2003, 12:14 PM
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Is it really worth it to save a few dollars? We also wondered that no one ever seemed to check, but bought tickets anyway, since we were using the busses/trains/boats. Last day in Venice, they checked...three people on the boat had to pay huge fines on the spot. Buy the ticket!<BR><BR>Anne
Apr 3rd, 2003, 12:37 PM
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One of the things I love about Europe are all the modes of transport on the honor system. <BR><BR>If they trust people, I'm not going to abuse that trust. <BR><BR>It's also hypocritical to demand that politicians, for example, be ethical -- something most of us seem to do -- if we're not willing to be ethical.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 01:44 PM
#8
Why in the world would you want to sneak on? Please realize that the ticket price supports the system (vaporetto/bus/subway) you are using. The idea of ripping-off the local economy you are visiting in this way is absurd.<BR><BR>To answer your question, sure people sneak on, and sure sometimes they get caught... but that is *SO* beside the point.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 01:49 PM
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Ok, funny story: Yes, my friend and hopped metros like it was our job for several weeks last summer on a backpacking tour o' europe. The main reasons: we noticed tons of locals doing it, we were low on cash, and didn't see much point in paying if they didn't check. We first did it in Madrid because we had no coin on us and the rush of wondering if we'd get busted proved addictive. We paid about 1/4 of the time from then on. <BR><BR>In Prague we noticed that no one seemed to be paying so we felt very secure and justified in doing it there. Then low and behold we get busted cold. The funny thing is I saw it coming. We were riding this long escalator up and I saw these two guys at the top of it and I just sorta knew the jig was up. I considered hoping to the other side and going back down, but elected to face the fire. We really thought the "officials" who tagged us were just trying to scam us because we were Americans, and we fed them all sorts of BS to get out of it, but the just kept threatening to call the cops and even began to, etc. <BR><BR>Later, we asked a local guy why no one payed and apparently they all have season passes, so to speak. Also, upon describing the guys who accosted us he guessed that they were probably legit--they were definitely in plain clothes though. <BR><BR>In retrospect we both agree we should have run for it just for the adventure--those two fat fools in the metro station wouldn't have caught us, but alas, we deserved it, so we payed our fine and went on our way, tale between our legs (pun intended). The fine was something like $17US. We sort of talked them down some because we didn't have enough to pay the whole thing which might have been more like $35. We had probably jumped enough metros to make of for that cost 2 fold, but it sucked nonetheless. <BR><BR>Honestly, I always felt bad doing it the whole time until we reached Prague where no one seemed to be paying--and that's where our run from Johnny Law ended--ahh, the irony. <BR><BR>I don't suggest it because it is stealing, but it made for some extra adventure and I feel we ultimately payed our debt to Western European society. For some reason the fact that they are all a bunch of stinkin socialists who tax the crap out of everything and everybody made it more appealing. <BR><BR>One piece of advice. Our local friend did mention that if you are not carrying any ID, they can't do anything to you, at least not in Prague. He said when his friends jumped metros they just left their ID at home and they were laughing. Again, spare me the sermons everyone, I know it's wrong and I don't intend to do it again.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:15 PM
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I take public transit both at home and abroad, and always pay my fare share, which I still consider a great bargain. At home, I buy a monthly pass. It's quite common for locals who have this pass to board at any open door, while those who are paying cash must board at the front, pay the operator, and request a transfer if they want one. I tend to flash my pass as I board, but many don't, which does not necessarily mean they don't have one. I imagine this is often the case with locals in Europe as well.<BR><BR>Our transit system has been complaining that it is losing badly needed revenue as a result of the "cheaters" who are hoppping aboard without paying - something that makes me, a local taxpayer, quite angry. Perhaps we need to get more inspectors to do spot checks and fine these people. The question is, how to pay for the inspectors, or to enforce the fines? I think the Italians make you pay on the spot, which is a great idea.<BR><BR>
Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:32 PM
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So as you walk past that fruit stand are you tempted to take a couple of pieces if no one is watching? How about grabbing that extra paper out of the paper box that you didn't pay for? Do you walk into stores and just "borrow" things?<BR><BR>Are you only an honest person when someone is watching you? How does that make you feel?
Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:44 PM
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i say don't do it - i took a three month trip in Europe a few years ago and i got checked for tickets constantly. I think the transit police target backpackers because they know we might pull a stunt like gordie's. Fortunately i always had a ticket on me, but i've seen hordes of Aussies get busted.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 04:26 PM
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First of all, I have had my ticket checked more than once on public transport.<BR><BR>Second of all, I figure that if I can afford to fly all the way to Europe, I can afford to pay my fare share on public transportation instead of sponging off of the locality that I'm visiting.
Apr 3rd, 2003, 06:00 PM
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I do admit to doing the same in Switzerland in 1975.<BR><BR>I always entered a bus looking around puzzled.<BR><BR>The one time I boarded and saw a man in uniform, I walked straight up to him, looked him in the eyes, held out a handful of change and asked him how much.<BR><BR>He followed me to my stop, got off with me, took my change and showed me how to use the machine to buy a ticket.<BR><BR>In my defense. I was 17 and travelling europe solo.
Apr 4th, 2003, 08:17 AM
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gordiemonster:<BR>You posted:<BR>"I don't suggest it because it is stealing, but it made for some extra adventure and I feel we ultimately payed our debt to Western European society. For some reason the fact that they are all a bunch of stinkin socialists who tax the crap out of everything and everybody made it more appealing."<BR><BR>May I respectfully sugest you keep your behind, no doubt subtly smelling of roses, firmly planted on your side of the atlantic. That way you won't be forced to inhale all the stinking socialist flavors.<BR><BR>Phil.
