[T] Charlie's revenge

[magid]

A lot of the stations I use frequently have the new card readers installed. I'm surprised that there are places where it would be easy to jump the waist-high barrier next to the scanners, especially at an unmanned entrance (I'm thinking of inbound in Central Square, the eastmost entrance). What's getting to me, though, is the sound. Every time someone uses a Charlie ticket, there's a fairly loud tone as the little doors swing aside, and a louder clanging when the machine doesn't like a ticket (or something). I hope they will turn the sound down once the system's been vetted; it's getting old really fast.

Comments

[jaq.livejournal.com]

The Oystercard machines here started with two different sounding beeps - one for OK/success, and one for failure. Then last year they introduced Child Oystercards, and they had to make a different beep for them. So now when you get on a bus you can hear a succession of different noises.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it drive you nuts to hear the noises after a while?

(Though I remember the Tube/trains as having entrances either far from the platforms, or outside, so perhaps it's not the same level of annoyance when the ticket machines are along the side of the platform.)

[jaq.livejournal.com]

As a normal rider you don't hear the noises much, only when you're getting on or going through a gate, and as you say, the gates are not right by the platforms like in the T.

I imagine it would be worse for the bus drivers and tube station staff. Maybe it's similar to being a checkout worker at a supermarket.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

My (granted, very brief) experience with both Oystercard readers and Charliecard readers is that the Charliecard readers are MUCH louder and a more annoying beep in the first place.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Huh. Not wholly my ears being more sensitive, then :-).