Pays to ride, not as you leave
I had to write after reading “Scofflaws costing Metro $3.2 million” [NWThursday, May 20].
I commute on the No. 21 bus. I was not surprised to see this information reported. With the current system of paying “as you leave,” I have seen people not pay when the articulated buses are full.
Some bus drivers just open the back door, asking people to exit and come to the front to pay their fare. This works if you are honest. This is where scofflaws come in.
Lack of payment is not something new, but it has been compounded with the new ORCA system. Inattentive drivers might be distracted from noticing a rider has not fully paid his or her fare, especially with the ORCA cards. The beeps sound somewhat similar and with so many riders getting off, a rider could be long gone before anything could be said.
In any case, this could be rectified with having everyone pay as they get on. ORCA is a great idea, but there is some tweaking required and it could involve eliminating the ride-free area.
— Lynda Bui, Seattle