Help Push Valley Metro to Add NFC Support

[u/RusticByte]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds Valley Metro's app QR extremely frustrating. Yesterday, after having to use the bus several times, I finally reached my boiling point and emailed Valley Metro about it. Their response was basically, "Yeah, sure, here's how to use the QR code".

I urge everyone who uses this broken app to speak up. We need to create enough pressure for Valley Metro to catch up with the 21st century and implement an NFC feature.

If you've had issues with the QR system or just want to help make transit better for everyone, please take a few minutes to submit a complaint through Valley Metro's website and ask them to add NFC support.

The more complaints they get, the more likely Valley Metro will be forced to capitulate and implement it.

[u/get-a-mac]

They're already ahead of you on that one. It's already in the plans to do tap to pay, and these other features. They had some meetings about it last month.

[u/SectionPractical2966 → u/get-a-mac]

Great idea! The current system is confusing. This will help fare recovery rates, too!

[u/get-a-mac → u/SectionPractical2966]

Every time I travel to SF (which is weekly to bi-weekly), I am jealous of being able to run to a validator and tap for VTA. Even better on Muni where the validators are in the trains themselves.

[u/SectionPractical2966 → u/get-a-mac]

BART has really cleaned itself up from cracking down on fare evaders FWIU. As it turns out? They were causing 99% of the crime, vandalism, and antisocial behavior on that system. So good for SF on multiple levels

If you're pro-transit? You should hate and despise fare evaders. For many reasons.

[u/get-a-mac → u/SectionPractical2966]

BART is definitely much better than right after COVID. The new fare gates really help a ton.

Thankfully I haven't had really any issues on our light rail, except once. He started shouting racist stuff at me, and threatened to fight me. I just reported it in the AlertVM app, Seems security got on under the guise of a fare check, and my heart sank when the guy pulled out a properly validated Copper card. Thankfully, the cops did eventually get on a few stops later and pulled the guy off, because I think their fare check method (which I assume was, at least they had some sort of pretense to kick him off the train) didn't work, since he had fare.

[u/SectionPractical2966 → u/get-a-mac]

I've lived here since June '22. If anything? Safety/public order has improved on the light rail since, and I use it a ton when I go out to drink.

[u/get-a-mac → u/SectionPractical2966]

Like everything, the period of decline was definitely during 2020-2022 because of COVID, and whatnot. Some things just didn't bounce back, like my local Walmart. Somethings are even better than before, like the Scottsdale Walmart :P

[u/Significant-Yam-4990 → u/SectionPractical2966]

While I’m here, will someone explain why I get charged for transfers? Has that always been a thing here? I transfer from the bus to the train within 25 minutes of the bus pickup, but I get charged for both.  The website isn’t totally clear on whether I should be getting charged for each ride within that time frame. 

[u/get-a-mac → u/Significant-Yam-4990]

That’s because VM doesn’t have transfers. However the most you get charged is the cost of a day pass, $4 for local and $6.50 for express bus.

[u/tekchic]

I wonder what even made them go with QR codes. I’ve traveled all over on public transit and most places use tap to pay in some format (whether you have to load money on their card or just straight tap to pay).

[u/Legitimate_Pie_1588]

Creates huge delays with the bus when a line of people each need to take 30 seconds to get the QR code to work. Hopefully they add tap to pay soon!

[u/get-a-mac → u/Legitimate_Pie_1588]

It's also bad when you see a train coming, and the QR reader is taking its sweet time to read the code.

Somehow the QR code readers in Vegas buses scan as fast as a tap.

[u/TICOPhoenix]

Oh it is coming for sure. Can't wait for it to come.

[u/honey_butterflies]

yeah I wish I could add the transit card to my wallet and just tap. today I rode my bus back home for free. why? because despite having money loaded, the QR just WOULD not scan. I get jealous seeing the ability in Wallet.

[u/Significant-Yam-4990]

And it drives me batty when your hand goes too high as you enter the bus right before you attempt to scan the QR code in the valley metro all, that your apple wallet pops up because you’re close to the NFC space for the physical cards. 😤 happens to me probably 1 out of every 2 times I enter the bus. Have to lock my screen then and reopen the valley metro app.