Comments on: Opus renewals running smoothly, surprisingly http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/ Can you think of a better name? Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:19:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fagstein http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-406372 Fagstein Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:58:20 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-406372 <blockquote>I told him that Apple sells me durable products that don't break in half.</blockquote> If your Opus card is breaking in half, it's probably because you're bending it. Don't bend your Opus card. Put it in a hard plastic case to protect it.

I told him that Apple sells me durable products that don't break in half.

If your Opus card is breaking in half, it's probably because you're bending it. Don't bend your Opus card. Put it in a hard plastic case to protect it.

]]> By: Sawnia http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-405622 Sawnia Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:48:50 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-405622 I've had 2 Opus cards break on me. The first one was a mechanical defect, and the second one broke. I went to Berri and the STM jerk off told me I'd have to pay AGAIN to replace it. He compared the cheap card to an ipod and said "if you break your ipod, Apple won't replacebit for free. I told him that Apple sells me durable products that don't break in half. When I refused to pay, he called security on me. I wasn't yelling, I just insisted that I wasn't going to pay again. I'd loaded it with a day pass for $8. Security came over with their bullet-proof vests because the jerk behind the bullet-proof glass felt threatened by lil ol me - a 5" tall woman who merely spoke to the guy. He finally agreed to give me the day pass in paper form as I told him to keep the broken card, as I'd NEVER buy another one. I've given up in the STM and went back to using my car. Well, no more perfume-soaked bitches, and no more smelly smokers who carry their used cigarette butts on them. Ewwww. I guess it was fate to be freed from the STM. STM= Satan's Torture Mayhem I've had 2 Opus cards break on me. The first one was a mechanical defect, and the second one broke. I went to Berri and the STM jerk off told me I'd have to pay AGAIN to replace it. He compared the cheap card to an ipod and said "if you break your ipod, Apple won't replacebit for free. I told him that Apple sells me durable products that don't break in half. When I refused to pay, he called security on me. I wasn't yelling, I just insisted that I wasn't going to pay again. I'd loaded it with a day pass for $8. Security came over with their bullet-proof vests because the jerk behind the bullet-proof glass felt threatened by lil ol me - a 5" tall woman who merely spoke to the guy. He finally agreed to give me the day pass in paper form as I told him to keep the broken card, as I'd NEVER buy another one.

I've given up in the STM and went back to using my car. Well, no more perfume-soaked bitches, and no more smelly smokers who carry their used cigarette butts on them. Ewwww. I guess it was fate to be freed from the STM.

STM= Satan's Torture Mayhem

]]> By: Jack B. http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-101346 Jack B. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:06:05 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-101346 I'm not blaming the cards. The readers installed in the metro stations are fast too, so it can only be an issue with those on the STM buses. I'm not blaming the cards. The readers installed in the metro stations are fast too, so it can only be an issue with those on the STM buses.

]]> By: Fagstein http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-101136 Fagstein Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:04:56 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-101136 I forgot to buy my November pass before Halloween night and it was still accepted on the night bus even though it was technically Nov. 1. So at least there's some leeway there. I forgot to buy my November pass before Halloween night and it was still accepted on the night bus even though it was technically Nov. 1. So at least there's some leeway there.

]]> By: SMS http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-101105 SMS Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:38:11 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-101105 Lines are shorter in the AM than the PM in my estimation... otherwise I don't really have a solution for those getting paid on the 1st. I'd rather go in the AM anyway (people seem more pleasant) I'm not even aware if an October pass on CAM would be good on 1 November like it used to be back in the day. Maybe not anymore. Lines are shorter in the AM than the PM in my estimation... otherwise I don't really have a solution for those getting paid on the 1st. I'd rather go in the AM anyway (people seem more pleasant)

I'm not even aware if an October pass on CAM would be good on 1 November like it used to be back in the day. Maybe not anymore.

]]> By: Jean Naimard http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100847 Jean Naimard Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:43:30 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100847 It’s all fine and nice that you can buy your card in advance, but all this effort comes to nothing when you don’t have to money to do so. I get paid on the 1st and the 15th of the month. So I am stuck having to wait in line because I just don’t have the goddammed fucking money in the first place when the passes go on sale. The rich and the civil servants just don’t understand what it is to be working. It’s all fine and nice that you can buy your card in advance, but all this effort comes to nothing when you don’t have to money to do so.

I get paid on the 1st and the 15th of the month.

So I am stuck having to wait in line because I just don’t have the goddammed fucking money in the first place when the passes go on sale.

The rich and the civil servants just don’t understand what it is to be working.

]]> By: SMS http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100809 SMS Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:56:57 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100809 Part of the problem is that people haven't gotten used to the notion quite yet that you can upload the following month from the 20th of the current month. I did just that in October and as a result I waited zilch minutes. The STM tried to advertise the fact but people haven't grasped it. This month was compounded by the student card fiasco and so I figured lines would be longer than usual. Part of the problem is that people haven't gotten used to the notion quite yet that you can upload the following month from the 20th of the current month. I did just that in October and as a result I waited zilch minutes. The STM tried to advertise the fact but people haven't grasped it. This month was compounded by the student card fiasco and so I figured lines would be longer than usual.

]]> By: Jean Naimard http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100770 Jean Naimard Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:51:47 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100770 And sometimes you don’t get paid until the end of the month and are stuck to wait at the last minute. It’s not everybody who got a cushy civil-service job where the paycheque comes down every single week. And sometimes you don’t get paid until the end of the month and are stuck to wait at the last minute. It’s not everybody who got a cushy civil-service job where the paycheque comes down every single week.

]]> By: Jean Naimard http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100620 Jean Naimard Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:49:32 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100620 Maybe the lightning-fast readers cost 2-3 times the cost of the snail-fast STM readers, too. When you have 2000 buses, this has a more serious impact on your budget than if you only have 100… Maybe the lightning-fast readers cost 2-3 times the cost of the snail-fast STM readers, too.

When you have 2000 buses, this has a more serious impact on your budget than if you only have 100…

]]> By: Vahan http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100605 Vahan Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:56:46 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100605 The people in the looooong line ups are stuck in line because of disorganized people. The looong line ups where on the 2nd of November, OPUS card users had so much time before the end of the month to renew and also all of Saturday and Sunday before the work week began. There is also, probably a little known fact, that some retailers also renew the OPUS card. There is no need to stand in line in the metro stations. The people in the looooong line ups are stuck in line because of disorganized people. The looong line ups where on the 2nd of November, OPUS card users had so much time before the end of the month to renew and also all of Saturday and Sunday before the work week began. There is also, probably a little known fact, that some retailers also renew the OPUS card. There is no need to stand in line in the metro stations.

]]> By: Alex T. http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100533 Alex T. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:03:56 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100533 Don't blame the OPUS card itself for speed issues on the bus. Blame the stupid readers the STM decided to go with. To see what I mean, take a trip to Brossard, Candiac or Varennes (among many other places). The OPUS card reader is LIGHTNING fast on those buses, taking about a third of a second to validate your ticket/pass. Alex Don't blame the OPUS card itself for speed issues on the bus. Blame the stupid readers the STM decided to go with. To see what I mean, take a trip to Brossard, Candiac or Varennes (among many other places). The OPUS card reader is LIGHTNING fast on those buses, taking about a third of a second to validate your ticket/pass.

Alex

]]> By: SMS http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-100489 SMS Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:08:43 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-100489 So how was it today? I saw loooong lines at Atwater and Longueuil this morning... So how was it today? I saw loooong lines at Atwater and Longueuil this morning...

]]> By: Jean Naimard http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98959 Jean Naimard Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:04:44 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98959 <blockquote> <em>There was a time (early 90s?) when a 90-minute transfer was good on any route, any direction until the time printed, but then they changed the rules. </em> </blockquote> It has been like that for ages, and around 1990, they made the transfer time-based only. But then Géranium Pommier in his great move towards eliminating public transit had that rule scrapped, effectively giving us a fare increase and gutting bus service. Ever since, fares have increased more than inflation, and Tremblay sure hasn’t done sweet fuck-all to either stop the unreasonable fare increases nor restored service to the level it was before Géranium Pommier.

There was a time (early 90s?) when a 90-minute transfer was good on any route, any direction until the time printed, but then they changed the rules.

It has been like that for ages, and around 1990, they made the transfer time-based only. But then Géranium Pommier in his great move towards eliminating public transit had that rule scrapped, effectively giving us a fare increase and gutting bus service.
Ever since, fares have increased more than inflation, and Tremblay sure hasn’t done sweet fuck-all to either stop the unreasonable fare increases nor restored service to the level it was before Géranium Pommier.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98957 Anonymous Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:57:24 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98957 Since I'm a parttime student now, and I can't get the student discount this year (shrug...) is my photo OPUS still good (i.e. can I load a regular price pass onto it?) Or do I have to get a new card? Since I'm a parttime student now, and I can't get the student discount this year (shrug...) is my photo OPUS still good (i.e. can I load a regular price pass onto it?) Or do I have to get a new card?

]]> By: C http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98898 C Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:59:40 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98898 Jean is right. There was a time (early 90s?) when a 90-minute transfer was good on any route, any direction until the time printed, but then they changed the rules. When they did, doubling back, even on a different route, was a no-no. I tried it on Cote Vertu with the 121 and 171 and the mean driver man made me pay. lol. Jean is right. There was a time (early 90s?) when a 90-minute transfer was good on any route, any direction until the time printed, but then they changed the rules. When they did, doubling back, even on a different route, was a no-no. I tried it on Cote Vertu with the 121 and 171 and the mean driver man made me pay. lol.

]]> By: Fagstein http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98896 Fagstein Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:54:06 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98896 Nope, just four. So one bought in the fall of 2008 is only good until 2012. Nope, just four. So one bought in the fall of 2008 is only good until 2012.

]]> By: Jack B. http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98883 Jack B. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:27:42 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98883 Just place the card flat on the reader and do _not_ move it at all for about one (seemingly long) second. My error rate is at perhaps one failed read out of fifty bus trips with this method. I am happy the first bus driver back in August last year told me this when I used OPUS for the first time. The red light usually comes on when people move their card back and forth in an effort to make the reader notice it. Don't do this. It makes the reader fail most of the time. Just place the card flat on the reader and do _not_ move it at all for about one (seemingly long) second. My error rate is at perhaps one failed read out of fifty bus trips with this method. I am happy the first bus driver back in August last year told me this when I used OPUS for the first time.

The red light usually comes on when people move their card back and forth in an effort to make the reader notice it. Don't do this. It makes the reader fail most of the time.

]]> By: Jean Naimard http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98877 Jean Naimard Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:02:24 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98877 Actually, no. You could only travel in one (general) direction. However, the regulation has been much less enforced by drivers recently, but I recall, as a kid, having to pay another ticket whenever I attempted to go backwards, be it in a loop or not… Actually, no. You could only travel in one (general) direction.

However, the regulation has been much less enforced by drivers recently, but I recall, as a kid, having to pay another ticket whenever I attempted to go backwards, be it in a loop or not…

]]> By: Gary http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98871 Gary Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:43 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98871 In the STL, I have never been asked to show my photo ID. I take the buss every weekday. Also, if the light flashes red, the driver will ask the passenger to try again, if it doesnt work.. after a while he just lets the person go in the person, this is only if the machine says that the card is not visible to read. In the STL, I have never been asked to show my photo ID. I take the buss every weekday.

Also, if the light flashes red, the driver will ask the passenger to try again, if it doesnt work.. after a while he just lets the person go in the person, this is only if the machine says that the card is not visible to read.

]]> By: Michael J. http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/10/24/opus-renewals/comment-page-1/#comment-98823 Michael J. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:04:37 +0000 http://blog.fagstein.com/?p=7288#comment-98823 I thought they were supposed to be "good" for 7 years? I thought they were supposed to be "good" for 7 years?

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