Go Card

Today I went to to a briefing on GO CARD. It was for Seniors.
I've been against this total conversion to the GO CARD sinse it was announced last year.
You and I were not consulted on this at all.
The press from Ms Rachel Nolan has been [to my mind] negative.
Add to this the factor that she has not stuck to the same story in any one interview makes her not caring one way or the other.

Now, most of what I heard today was positive. Go Card is a good idea. BUT! there is no real benefit to the user, other than the factor that they get a cheaper fare than a paper ticket holder.
When I mentioned the factor of the discrimination here, I was told that it was an emotive response.
Having checked with the ACCC about this early on, I found that although there is discrimination here, the factor remained that the Minister[Ms Nolan & Translink] had not lodged their proposal with the ACCC before going ahead with the price increase. Therefore, because the proper papers had not been submitted, there was not a thing they could do.

The only way you can receive a discount on GO CARD is after doing 10 trips.
Originally Ms Nolan was wanting people to move their travel habits to OFF PEAK time zones. Fine if you are not working. Otherwise, you go to work, you go home. 10 Journeys. Now unless everyone in the family has a GO GARD, you are not traveling by public transport. Because it is only after 10 journeys that you start to get a discount.
Now, what they haven't taken into account with other systems using a Plastic Card, is, the factor work on the basis of that card user only paying OFF PEAK Fare for any trip regardless of time of day.
Also, the factor that paper tickets are still available to users in those places with a Plastic Card system. For example, LONDON with the OYSTER CARD and PAPER TICKETS.
The other problem for me today was the factor that I [being only 61] was found to be not OLD ENOUGH.
Well, The event was for Senior Card holders. As I told them, the card was totally useless to me, unless I want free coffee at McDonalds [with purchase] and the occassional place that accepts Seniors Cards, and, there are very few in the vicinity and most for things I don't need.
So there you have it.
After 1st January, no more paper tickets. Until then the OFF PEAK daily [used throughout the set times] is your best choice. I have it down to one day a week where I can do all the travel I need to, within the time frame,and, that includes multi trips.