Qountdown

» Chron: Good news, bad news about Metro's Q Cards (Rad Sallee)

Truth be told, I should be a frequent user of 30-day passes. But I'm slightly phobic of losing something like that two days after buying one. My means of compensation have been to game the day-pass for all it's worth. Easy stuff, really. Pick one up on the way into the office at 8, leave the next day at 7:30 ... three rides for two bucks. Wednesdays are critical for this: I'm off to work, chuch in the PM, then home. If I work in that morning trick, I can manage four boardings for $2. Throw in the random ride home, lazy day not spent in transit anywhere ... and I figure I make out about the same as plunking down the dough for a 30-day pass.

That all ends on the 31st. Maybe I'll pick up a late 30-day pass to sneak it in by the later deadline for using such things. But ultimately, it's Q-Card or bust.

I picked up a card when they launched the test. Used it for a month or two ... and promptly set it aside. Limiting transfer to a few hour window, to me, represents a fare increase. And that's what the Q-card ultimately is. Maybe not an end-of-the-world fare increase ... but a fare increase nonetheless.

It's important to realize what brought about the existing complexity in the fare structure. Businesses get breaks, folks with a special need get breaks. All fine and well. I'm not here to gripe about their discount or negotiated deal. But it does make me curious about how long before we just find ourselves with yet another complex fare structure that needs to be dealt with.

Or, maybe they'll just be honest about it and raise fares.