Transit pass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A transit pass, bus pass, etc. (given different names by different networks) is a ticket that allows a passenger of the service take either a certain number of pre-purchased trips, or unlimited trips within a fixed period of time. Depending on the transport network and the amount of use of the pass that is made, the pass may offer varying discounts compared with trips that are purchased individually.
While transit passes can generally be purchased at full price by anyone wishing to use the services (senior citizens, the disabled, students, and some others are often able to get them at a reduced price), many employers, colleges, and universities will subsidize the cost of them, or sometimes the full amount. Some public transport networks will allow certain types of personnel, including police officers, fire fighters, active military, and their own employees to ride their services for free without proper identification and without the need to purchase a pass.
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[edit] Types of passes
- Further information: Season ticket
Some common forms of transit passes are:
- Day pass - offers unlimited rides for day of purchase. Usually available for purchase on the bus being boarded.
- Weekly pass - allows for unlimited rides for a seven-day period. While some networks allow for the pass to be purchased for any seven-day period, others only offer these passes for the same range of seven days (usually either Sunday thru Saturday or Monday thru Sunday).
- Monthly pass - allows for unlimited rides for an entire month. Since months vary in length, the discount for the use of such a pass varies each month. Some networks allow the pass to be used for a specified 30- or 31-day period that does not necessarily have to start on the first of the month.
- Annual pass - Allows for unlimited rides for the entire year, and usually offers a higher discount than the monthly pass.
- Multi-trip tickets - a bundle of single trips purchased for a fare that is often reduced per trip. Historically, these have often been in the form of tokens, but tokens are being discontinued in many places in favor of more high-tech methods of fare collection.
[edit] Transfers
Many companies offer transfers that allow the rider who pays for a single-trip fare to continue the trip on another bus or train. Depending on the network, there may or may not be an additional fee for the transfer. Most transfers are stamped or hole-punched with the time, date, and direction of travel to prevent their use for a return trip. They are at a total of $24.00/month
Some public transport companies may honor transfers purchased from another company with connecting service.
[edit] Examples of transit passes
Some examples of transit passes available from various companies are as follows:
[edit] New York City
On New York City Transit, a one-way fare is currently $2 per trip, and allows for free transfers between buses and subway. Day passes (known as fun passes) can be purchased for $7, providing unlimited rides on the system. Weekly passes are $24, and monthly passes are $81. Multi-trip Metrocards are also available that provide 6 rides for the cost of 5 ($10), or 12 rides for the cost of 10 ($20). Further information of New York MTA fares can be found here.
[edit] Washington, D.C. area
While fares for individual trips vary, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority offers various passes for riding bus and Metrorail. A seven-day regular fare pass for unlimited Metrorail rides is $39, but this cannot be used on buses. A one-day pass is available for $7.80, but on weekdays, this is not valid until after 9:30 AM. A weekly Metrobus pass is available for $11 at regular fare, and it cannot be used on Metrorail.
Riders of Metrorail can obtain transfers to Metrobus, but those initially boarding Metrobus cannot transfer to Metrorail without paying an additional fare. Those transferring between any two Metrorail lines can change trains without exiting the gate, thereby incurring no additional fare or requiring a transfer slip.
Transfers are honored both ways between Metrobus and Montgomery County's Ride-on bus service. Ride-on accepts transfers from Metrorail for an additional 35¢ (waived for senior citizens), but there are no transfers from Ride-on buses to Metrorail.
There is no reciprocity between WMATA and MARC Train service in Maryland. However, MARC monthly passes are honored as fare payment for all Maryland Transit Administration bus, Metro and Light Rail services in the Baltimore area at no extra cost.
The Maryland Transit Administration within the Baltimore area generally charges $1.60 for a single trip on one local bus or train. The agency abolished transfers in 1996 in favor of day passes, which at the time were $3.00 and are currently $3.50. Those taking multi-bus/train trips are encouraged to purchase day passes, which at regular fare, are the cost of two one-way trips plus 30¢. Weekly and monthly passes are also available, and all such passes since 2005 have been called "GO-passes." The only transfers that are allowed in the system without additional fare payment are between the various lines of the light rail.
For further reading on WMATA fares, see here. For Baltimore area MTA fares, see here.
[edit] New Orleans
In New Orleans, both transfers and day passes are available. A transfer may be purchased for 25¢ in addition to the $1.25 base fare. Day passes can be purchased for $5.00 when boarding any bus or streetcar. Additionally, passes valid for a 3-day period can be purchased for $12.00 at a limited number of locations[1].
[edit] Martha's Vineyard
In Martha's Vineyard, a rare annual pass is offered in addition to passes valid for one, three, seven, or thirty-one days. The cost of an annual pass is $100 for adults and $50 for students. All other types of passes are available at adult prices only[2].
[edit] Winnipeg
Winnipeg Transit offers free transfers with all base fares, and these transfers are valid for up to 60 minutes from the time of fare payment in what is called a power hour by the agency. Not only is the transfer honored on any line in the system, but the agency is unique for allowing the transfer to be used for a return trip on the same line within the hour. The agency also offers weekly and monthly passes and 10-trip tickets[3].
[edit] Seattle region
Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, and Pierce Transit offers free transfers, and these transfers are good for a minimum of 90 minutes after the trip's end. When transfers are used on the issuing system, the user gets full credit for the amount paid on the issuing service. When used on a partner system, the transfer is valid for the base fare on that system. Each agency still issues their own transfers, but the letter and color are synchronized, allowing for operators to easily recognize valid transfers. The agency also issues universal passes, known as PugetPasses. In addition to the agencies listed above, Everett Transit and Intercity Transit accept these passes for face value.
[edit] Greyhound
Greyhound Lines offers the Discovery Pass which allows unlimited travel in the United States or Canada for a period of time purchased, which may be 7, 15, 30, or 60 days. There is a greater discount per trip for passes purchased for longer periods[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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