By Peter Raaymakers, Ottawa Citizen, December 8, 2014
When Ottawa launched the Presto payment system on the OC Transpo fleet last
year, it was a welcome (if overdue) change to the old, outdated way of managing
fares. A digital wallet offers vast convenience for users, with its auto-reload
feature removing the need to scrounge for change on a daily or monthly basis.
Its tracking of rides and fares paid is also of interest, especially come tax
time when reports can be generated quickly to take advantage of the federal
public transit tax credit. But even when this digital system was launched, OC
Transpo didn’t change their fare structures at all. We still have limited
options on our buses, mainly boiling down to single fares or a pre-paid monthly
pass. In essence, OC Transpo is continuing to operate its analog fare structure
under a digital system. The Presto system is not being used to its capacity. via
Peter Raaymakers: Time to update OC Transpo fare structure | Ottawa
Citizen.