When I saw the first STIB - MIVB portals a few years ago, I was thinking they wouldn’t last long due to how agressive they are. Although being an honest commuter paying all my trips, I have been almost sliced in two by them multiple times (without injuries except for my self esteem ). but those doors slamming into elderly persons could send them to the hospital.
And now we even have to scan to get out of some stations, this is generating extra delay during peak hours, sometimes there are only two lanes for a whole fucking metro… Everyone having to scan, not everyone is ready to scan, sometimes the scanning does not work for a single person which adds another extra delay… There is no way to have a soooth exit flow.
If we want to reduce the number of cars in Brussels we need to find better solutions…
What we need is a generation of politicians who understand that public services don’t lose money, they cost money - because they’re a public service, not a business. This mindset about “illegal riders” is all wrong. Imagine having to buy a ticket to use the pavement.
Please don’t give them any ideas…
I prefer the gates over the old system where you have to scan your ticket somewhere at the wall since it’s faster and I won’t forget it.
Also agree with @vegivamp@feddit.nl, but I would go further. Investing in public transportation saves us money because it costs less than the alternatives if you account for externalities.
I rather like the free public transport system they have in Luxembourgh. No hassle and everyone shares in the cost of keeping cars off the road by paying taxes. You still wanna drive? Sure, but you still pay for public transport too.
People not being ready to scan when they know they’ll have to scan is simply an utter lack of consideration, worse even when they won’t step aside while getting their card.
As for the rest yeah I do share your gripes although I’ve never been even close to being sliced by the doors.
Well I exaggerated the « being sliced in two », what I ment is that it can be a bit painful when you’re moving forward and the doors are closing at the speed of light. And when they close, it looks like there are no sensors, it feels like you have to fight your way out of the crocodile mouth.
Some people do not know they will have to scan, but can we blame them ? I feel the ones not ready to scan are not daily commuters, they take the metro occasionally, are waiting in the lane without visibility on the gate, and see they have to scan only when it’s their turn.