Maybe we can still stop this boondoggle.

Bicyles, strollers, carts, etc. can get through the gates via the ADA gate. There will also be a emergency swing gate to allow them through there as well.

What is REALLY at issue here, that I'd like to know, will there be station attendants? Someone to let you through if the machines are broken? Right now we have the loneliest train stations I'd ever seen. Sometimes I've been the ONLY person down there, save for the big brother cameras watching me. It'd be nice to have at least one attendant on hand at all times to either answer questions, address issues, or call for support of a bigger issue. This is typical of fare-gated systems.

Let me tell you of my experience with station attendants in San Francisco.

Imagine a job where you are paid $40 to $50 an hour, plus an 85% pension and full health benefits, just to sit in a glass box all day. Brushing off customers is part of the job requirement it seems.

In just a span of five minutes, one clerk had told a pair of riders who wanted to know how to get to AT&T Park for a Giants game: "I am not customer information. Look at the maps on the wall or call 511 [the Bay Area's transit information hot line]."

One rider did not have change to put $1.50, in quarters only, into the turnstile. This time the attendant did not even say anything; just pointed to a piece of paper in the window that said station attendants do not handle cash. Riders must break bills in a change machine or a BART TVM.

This is just an anecdote, but one that is corroborated by countless San Francisco riders who have to endure the attendants.

So they are paid handsomely for not really adding anything of value to the ridership experience, other than telling people to go to a giant sticker or a machine that do not earn a salary yet provide riders with the necessary information. Now Muni is in a financial crisis, yet it would cost more in severance to rid the workers from the payroll than it would to keep paying them. Plus, since they neither provide a useful function to the organization nor gained any appreciable skills on the job, they would likely have little else they could do to be employable in something else and in all likelihood bring the same work ethic to the new job.

I am quite sure I can hear of similar anecdotes from frustrated riders in New York City or Boston.

We are talking about a government agency here. If Metro creates a station attendant position, it has essentially created a redundant position that it cannot get rid of.

We'll hear complaints of sheriff's deputies that do nothing more than stand around in stations. So will the station attendant. The difference is, the station attendant is obligated to stay out of harm's way.

We are up in arms because the gate implementation is not tied to introduction of free transfers or distance based fare. In my opinion, the main reason for gates is to create a "quarantine zone" so that once you are in, you can transfer as many times as you need to get to where you want to go. As is, the installation of gates doesn't bring us any benefits (i.e. free transfers) so what gives?

The other tangent here is TAP cards... Again, the concept is great. One payment system for the county. But in other cities that has this kind of payment system, it is typically tied to a distance based fare and it allows free transfers not only between line but also between systems (i.e. train to bus to ferry to commuter rail etc). None of that is in the works for LA and not even planned. Why go through the trouble of implementing a brand new payment system if we are not going to change the system for better convenience and functionality?

Bikes, strollers, baggage, people will all fit through just fine. And I'm SURE they will read one-use passes. They might institute a different pass, perhaps one with the magnetic strip?

The "terrorism" prevention is total bullshit. It's like any other form of security, a minor deterrent. If someone wants to do something, they will, no matter what is in the way.

What is REALLY at issue here, that I'd like to know, will there be station attendants? Someone to let you through if the machines are broken? Right now we have the loneliest train stations I'd ever seen. Sometimes I've been the ONLY person down there, save for the big brother cameras watching me. It'd be nice to have at least one attendant on hand at all times to either answer questions, address issues, or call for support of a bigger issue. This is typical of fare-gated systems.

I also second the motion that transfers would be VERY nice. I don't think distance-based fares are necessary, but a transfer would be nice. So would stored value cards that were NOT smart cards... the kind with the magnetic strip I mentioned. Also, they need to roll out the value-storage on the TAP cards..... what a novel idea that would be.

The officer has a gun, so when some asshole sticks his own gun in my back and demands my wallet, maybe one of these officers can chase after the guy.

Or maybe the officers presence, and I see them a lot, will prompt the thief to wait until I leave the station to beat the shit out of me.

I don't know about everyone else, but the reason I'm bellyaching is that 1) you will have to carry two passes, a Metrolink monthly pass and a TAP card (isn't the whole point of TAP supposed to be an all-in-one card?) and 2) one-way and round-trip riders are abandoned when it comes to "free" transfers.

Metrolink is really pimping its weekend trains, but if a family of four now has to shell out $20 on top of their Metrolink tickets to buy day passes to spend a day in LA, well, good luck with that.

Personally, I take Metrolink mostly on the weekends, which means I buy one-way and round-trip tickets (the 10-trip is good for occasional weekday trips). Now I'll buy the 10-trip to get the TAP card from Metrolink, but I'll now be paying a higher fare per ride. But since many people are not in this position, Metrolink has booted them without fear of losing much ridership.

"It's not like these electronic cards are a new idea, nor are they difficult to use. I've seen what the Suica can do in Tokyo, and it is a powerful little piece of plastic."

I've used Suica and TAP is no Suica. It has a long way to go.

What I don't understand is why the munis, Metrolink and even transit advocates are bellyaching about the TAP cards.

It's not like these electronic cards are a new idea, nor are they difficult to use. I've seen what the Suica can do in Tokyo, and it is a powerful little piece of plastic. One card works for the subway, private rail lines, the Yamanote Line, every possible train and bus you can think of. You can put passes on it. You can put cash on it. The system knows how far you've traveled and charges accordingly. Going through fare gates is a breeze. Wave the card, the machine beeps and you're through.

Maybe there have been some bugs in implementing TAP, but it'll be worth it in the end when the munis get on board and when MTA finally implements the debit card function.

2 bikes per car means less riders. Turnstiles means less riders.

It is almost like the last thing the MTA wants is high transit use (typically the mark of a successful public transit system).

God forbid they freeze the dollars to the MTA tow trucks or put fare gates at the entrance to the freeways - then we'd have a crisis on our hands!

Since they're doing it, let's hope they do it well.

I have no inside info, but I imagine a bicyclist would get through the same way someone in a wheelchair will be able to. Probably through a wider gate.