Updated: Thu Jun. 12 2008 11:06:26

ctvbc.ca

Skytrain stations in B.C.'s Lower Mainland will soon be outfitted with turnstiles, and users will have to adopt a Smart Card system, says the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (Translink).

The decision to end the infamous honour system was confirmed by B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon at a press conference in Vancouver, Wednesday.

Falcon says the turnstiles and Smart Cards will begin to be implemented by 2010, a move that he hopes will boost ridership on the system by making people feel more secure about taking the Skytrain.

"The only way you're going to make it successful is if people feel like they're safe. That's certainly the lesson in London and Amsterdam," Falcon said.

"They've seen an immediate reduction in criminal activities in their systems with the implementation of turnstiles and Smart Cards."

The Smart Card will work like a regular debit card, requiring passengers to prepa,  load the card and then swipe it before and after they get off the train.

To obtain a card, Skytrain passengers will have to provide personal information.

Falcon says the cards, in conjunction with the turnstiles, should cut down on fare evaders, and  is expected to increase Translink revenues by more than 20 per cent.

The cards will also give transit officials a better picture of who's causing trouble on platforms. This is because officials will have a detailed list of who is riding that particular line at the time.

Wednesday's announcement comes at a time when Skytrain is under heavy pressure to ramp up security measures.

Last month, B.C. New Democratic Party MLA Adrian Dix said TransLink wasn't doing enough to make the system safe for its users. He was referring to a string of attacks on women at Skytrain stations.

Dix collected 3,500 signatures on a petition demanding better security. The petition also made several proposals designed to increase safety, including better lighting, turnstiles and full-time security at all stations.

At the same time, Sheshleen Datt - an 18-year-old victim of a vicious Skytrain station attack in April - called on TransLink to make public transportation safer and more secure for all passengers.

"I just want to feel safe before going on the SkyTrain again," she said on May 20.

"It's not only me, but everyone needs to feel safe. People rely on transit for everyday life, going to work and everything, and we all need to be safe," she said.

At Wednesday's press conference, Kevin Falcon said the new measures will do a lot to make the transit system more secure and safe for people like Sheshleen.

"I think it encourages women to use the system late at night, especially at times when people feel a little less secure," says Falcon.

Please Add Comments(10)

Constance
Having just read this I'm a bit concerned about the following:

"To obtain a card, Skytrain passengers will have to provide personal information"
AND
"The cards will also give transit officials a better picture of who's causing trouble on platforms --because officials will have a detailed list of who is riding that particular line at the time"

So, is TransLink improving our safety at the expense of giving away private information?

I'm not too sure about this? I just hope that privacy issues are taken into consideration with this new program. If not, we certainly have local activist groups in our city that will certainly raise this issue.

May C
This is good news, but I am worried requirement of personal information. I don't see why Translink needs to have detailed information about who is riding the train at any given time, or how that information is going to increase security,unless ridership is constantly monitored and toublemakers are flagged as they enter a station. Transit systems that see much higher ridership numbers, such as Hong Kong, don't require such information for their turnstiles, and function quite well. Do the benefits really warrant giving up this smidgen of privacy?

Common Sense
It'a about time!

RealityCheck
I'm looking forward to the smartcard system and seeing the current zone system go away.

Living 5 minutes from the Burnaby border and 5 minutes from the Fraser River makes the current system unfair for short trips to Metrotown or Richmond. I'm tired of subsidizing my neighbours much longer trips to the Downtown core and their kids trip to UBC. I'm forced to drive to avoid paying those tolls.

While gates will be found at the stations, I think we need to do more about fare evasion on buses, especially on rear loading BLine and downtown Eastside buses. After the initial launch a year ago, I have never been challenged to show my fare.

JY
It should mirror the system in Hong Kong (Octopus Card). It's a anonymous cash card that can be used at various participating retailers/restaurants. It's better than cash.

Dan
This will not work at all. people enter and exit though emergency exits all the time. Hardly any fare checks. 70% of riders now the buses don't pay there fares by boarding through the second and third door on ALL routes.

ART
I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE MOVE AND WILL CUT DOWN ON THE CHEATERS AND ALSO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE SECURE.

Henry Lorteau
Go figure just in time for the 2010 olympics

Mik Mann
I have no problem with a pre-loaded fare card but I will not give up my personal information to ride public transit.

I see this as just 1 step closer to having your identity stolen or other abuse of your personal information.

Tabitha
Why did this take so long? It is about time...the money 'saving' little less making will be enormous and I hope that will reduce how often our rates go up (ridership and via misc billing ie, hydro).

The comments that this should be SYSTEMWIDE I completely agree with! On Buses, Seabus & Skytrain, this makes everything consistent.

As well, I DISagree with needing to provide personal information to get the card. Toronto works wonderfully and there's no need to provide information. Translink needs to rethink this step because those cards can as well, like everything else, be stolen. If personal information is attached to it, that's not a good thing at all!

Why can they not think things through 100%? It's always 80% at the best.