Would you ride city buses if you knew you were being tracked?
By Netsbridge
@Netsbridge (3253)
United States
January 26, 2007 11:00am CST
Houston's Metro has come up with a Q-card (Q meaning Quick, says Metro) for bus riding that will require the rider to provide ID info at time of purchase to be entered into the system. When asked why, Metro says that the ID info is to guarantee card replacement should card be lost. Metro already have a system that tracks Metro passes, but can only track a particular rider only if there had been a Metro pass replacement, which requires ID for replacement. The Q-card, like the current weekly, monthly and annual passes, has a serial number, a most info for card replacement. However, Metro says it will not replace its Q-card if it were bought without ID, even if the rider has the serial number. Also, only Q-card holders are given transfers of 2 hours - those who use cash or credit card to ride buses will not be given transfers. When asked why no cash or credit privileges, a Metro agent says "we give you the option to be anonymous and the choice is yours." But as you can see, cash and credit riders are deprived of riding privileges! Thus, Houston's Metro is making the Q-card mandatory for bus riding.
I asked Metro whose idea it is to track people around the city, and Metro denies doing something that awful! How do you feel about knowing you are being tracked every time you step on public transportation with your Q-card?
1 response
@super1880 (116)
• United States
21 Feb 07
I wouldn't ride the bus, I would rather walk because this is ridiculous to track people's every single step.
