The totally off-topic thread

[Austman]

Well, that raises the question if I just get the $6 card, instead of the $14 visitor pack, I have 1 trip included? Or am I travelling illegally since they're not going to get any money?

It seems myki will allow you to touch-on with a zero balance and then touch-off but you'll then have a negative balance. But the card can't be used to touch-on again without first topping up the balance. So effectively you can get one journey out of a $6 card. I'm not 100% sure. But it's discussed here:

Hardly any money on your #Myki? You can still travel – but beware of the caveats – Daniel Bowen dot com

 

[whatmeworry]

Had to buy a new myki as I left others behind in ADL. Suspect my ongoing purchases of the card (now have several) are keeping Mel transport afloat. Love Mel trams though esp with the free internal CBD routes.

Paying $6 for a myki card is an absolutely shocker.

Even worse, the cards "expire" after a few years and you have to buy a new one.

The $6 is non-refundable but the balance on a old card can be transferred to a new card and the new card will cost nothing when you hand in a old card. Even better register your card and if you lose it, you can request a replacement card.

I have had to explain this to train staff, that you don't have to pay $6 each time when your card expires and had to show them the text on the website.

 

[Austman]

I'm a tourist. I don't register for warranties so a myki card ain't going to happen.

Up to you but it's the only way to get a balance refund and or a free replacement if the myki is lost or stolen.

 

[serfty]

... I believe this can also be done on the spot at PTV hubs but there's only 2 of them in the metro area. Else it has to be done on-line. So it's maybe worth registering your cards?
...

Also can be done at staffed railway stations - they are getting more used to it.

Originally the Myki was only to be valid for three years with further payment for replacement after that time. After an outcry it's now 4 years and free replacement.

 

[Austman]

Also can be done at staffed railway stations - they are getting more used to it.

But can they do it for lost/stolen cards which is what I was referring to? That's not what's stated on-line.

I know train stations can do free replacements and balance transfers if you hand over an expired card.

 

[Flashback]

Even worse, the cards "expire" after a few years and you have to buy a new one.

The cards issued by MTA in NYC are also the same - but expire after only 1 year. They're only $1 though.

Well, that raises the question if I just get the $6 card, instead of the $14 visitor pack, I have 1 trip included? Or am I travelling illegally since they're not going to get any money?
I'm in Melbourne tomorrow for the day. Need to get from airport to Burnley campus with time to use Skybus/trams. But only have 90 minutes for the return trip, between meeting end and scheduled departure, which suggests a taxi.
As for the deposit idea, I can't remember about london, but my card in Tokyo had a deposit that was refunded when I handed the card back in.

London will refund the deposit if you return an Oyster. Obviously these days you can just use contactless.

TFL is licensing the contactless technology to cities in Australia, unfortunately Melbourne isn't one of them: London licenses contactless payment technology worldwide - BBC News

 

[Austman]

London will refund the deposit if you return an Oyster. Obviously these days you can just use contactless.

Known as "payWave" here. I used it recently with my Australian CC and it worked very well. A great idea.

 

[medhead]

It seems myki will allow you to touch-on with a zero balance and then touch-off but you'll then have a negative balance. But the card can't be used to touch-on again without first topping up the balance. So effectively you can get one journey out of a $6 card. I'm not 100% sure. But it's discussed here:

Hardly any money on your #Myki? You can still travel – but beware of the caveats – Daniel Bowen dot com

Interesting. Clearly someone stuffed up. Opal cards are free, but they don't let you tap on without balance to cover minimum fare. Airport won't allow entry without $15 balance, for example. Can still go negative.

edit: Good blog post. But the end does confirm that using a zero balance myki is most likely illegal.

 

[coriander]

But can they do it for lost/stolen cards which is what I was referring to?

Yes.

My wife lost her annual myki (registered). PTV Hub at Spencer Street station cancelled old card and issued new card with same annual pass on it on the spot.

 

[Austman]

Yes.

My wife lost her annual myki (registered). PTV Hub at Spencer Street station cancelled old card and issued new card with same annual pass on it on the spot.

The question was can staffed train stations do that (for lost/stolen cards)? We know that the PTV centres can do it.

 

[Pushka]

Watching The Bachelor. I know. but MrP is on a plane. A nice crowd of cats in the harem. One phrase that peeves me no end "shut the front door". I think I'd prefer the F word. And the current use of the word 'like'. Sat down in a shopping centre the other day and there was a job appraisal being done. The manager used the word 'like' multiple times in every sentence.

 

[Austman]

edit: Good blog post. But the end does confirm that using a zero balance myki is most likely illegal.

Yes maybe. Some visiting friends needed to travel by metro train a few weeks ago. They had thought they would get a taxi back.
So they bought a myki with $4 credit - so $10 all up and enough credit for their one-way zone 1+2 trip ($3.90). But they ended up returning by train (the next day). On the return they touched-on and touched-off OK. So they thought it was fine as the system allowed it. I don't know why the system didn't require them to do a top-up at the touch-off point if it's a train station with exit turnstiles, but it seems it doesn't. Maybe because exit turnstiles are the exception not the rule?

 

[JessicaTam]

For those night owls, Tony Delroy has announced his retirement from Night Life. 4 weeks to go.

 

[get me outta here]

Oh no .....

For those night owls, Tony Delroy has announced his retirement from Night Life. 4 weeks to go.

 

[amaroo]

How good is this Lady!

[video=youtube;ua2k52n_Bvw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua2k52n_Bvw[/video]

 

[amaroo]

For those that feel down ... Sunny!

[video=youtube;uRWyxzmNdJc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWyxzmNdJc[/video]

 

[medhead]

Are we trying to fill the TOTT with music just like I see people trying to fill Facebook with music?

 

[drron]

Ok so this scumbag will also post some music.A song released 55 years ago today but this time about feeling down-
[video=youtube_share;kjq4wYuwgxs]https://youtu.be/kjq4wYuwgxs[/video]

 

[drron]

RIP Jack Davis.I remember with fondness his cartoons in MAD-essential reading for me back when-
Jack Davis, legendary Mad Magazine, EC Comics artist, dead at 91 - NY Daily News

And for Cove I believe that is a picture of Svetlana in the ad for Russian matches.

 

[moa999]

On myki, just hit my 4yr expiry on my barely used card, received a new one in the mail after request, although balance for now is on the old one