The City of Cape Town this morning released this press release, on the latest improvement to its MyCiTi fare system. As of Saturday 3 August 2013, a distance-based fare system will come into operation. For more information, read below, or keep an eye on your newspapers as from tomorrow.Information will also be made available at kiosks. "On 3 August 2013, MyCiTi is introducing a new distance-based fare system, with several options for saving money. Until now, MyCiTi has had a “flat fare” system with set fares charged on routes, whether you were travelling the whole way or for just a few stops. A new distance-based fare system has now been implemented that will calculate your fare from where you first tap in, when entering a MyCiTi bus or station, to where you tap out at your final destination. The system calculates which distance band your journey falls into and deducts the correct fare from your myconnect card. This is good news for people travelling shorter distances, such as from the Civic Centre to Paarden Eiland, because the cost of their journey will be lower. This will be a permanent system, replacing the interim system that was in place up till now. Key features of the new system are that cheaper fares will be available outside the Peak fare periods of 06:30 and 08:30 in the mornings and 16:00 and 18:00 in the afternoons on weekdays. For all other times of the day on weekdays, and all day on weekends and public holidays, fares will be on average 17% lower than Peak fares, which we call the Saver fare period. There will also be 20% discounts during the Peak and Saver periods for frequent travellers who load pre-paid travel packages onto their myconnect cards, called ‘Mover’ packages. The aim is that it will become the norm for MyCiTi passengers to buy Mover packages and benefit from the savings. The two main principles behind the new system are that the fares should be comparable to those charged by other bus services and the minibus-taxi industry, and that they must minimise the cost deficit of the system. “It has been a challenge, but we think the new system strikes the balance between these two principles,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron. “We have done this by giving benefits to regular users and to off-peak travel, to encourage the most efficient use possible of the MyCiTi fleet. “We believe the large majority of MyCiTi passengers will buy the Mover packages, which gives them a double saving. There is no 2,5% load fee, or the R1,50 minimum, charged on these packages. On top of that, there will be substantial discounts on fares if these packages are used instead of loading cash onto the cards. “Most passengers will end up paying less than they now pay on the MyCiTi service, even though the new system will kick in after another increase in the petrol price,” said Councillor Herron. The Mover purchases expire after only three years, so even infrequent MyCiTi travellers can benefit. Mover packages will initially only be available from station kiosks and not at MyCiTi retailers that offer card sales and top-up facilities. More detailed information about this new system will be made available in the local press and at MyCiTi bus stations. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. When will the fares change? The change to a distance-based fare system is expected to take place on 3 August 2013. 2. Why will they change? The existing system charges “flat fares” of R5,80 and R11,50, as from 1 July 2013. This is an interim system, which was planned for use until the permanent, distance-based system kicks in. 3. What is the main difference? There are several key differences: • In future, your fare will be based on the distance you travel. The shorter the trip, the cheaper the fare. • However, the longer the distance, the less you pay per kilometre. • There will be savings on the bulk purchases, called ‘Mover’ packages. Bank charges will not apply on Mover purchases. • Discounts also apply for the Saver periods, compared to the Peak periods. Peak periods are 06:30 – 08:30 and 16:00 – 18:00. Saver periods are all the other hours in the day, plus weekends and public holidays. 4. What is a ‘Mover’ package? Mover packages mean bulk purchases. When you load certain values, you are loading a Mover package. You can buy Mover packages costing R80, R100, R150, R200, R400, R600 and R800 and R1 000. The non-discounted price is the fare you will pay if you don’t have a travel package. 5. Where can I buy a Mover package? Mover packages are available at all MyCiTi station kiosks. In future, they will also be available at MyCiTi retailers. 6. What happens if I load money without buying a Mover package? The money you load on the myconnect card is loaded onto one of two “electronic purses”. If you load money without buying a travel package, the money is available for both travelling and for spending, as with a debit card. Banking fees are charged when you load money and there are no savings for travelling on MyCiTi. If you buy a travel package, the money goes into the “MyCiTi purse” on your card. Money from the purse can only be used for travelling on MyCiTi. No banking fees are charged and you save on the cost of each trip. 7. How will the system benefit me? The proposed fares are comparable to the fares on the other bus and minibus-taxi services. During the off-peak periods, the proposed fares are less than or the same as these other services. 8. How much will I pay? It depends on the distance you travel. It also depends on whether you have bought a travel package from a MyCiTi station kiosk. Also see point 9 below. Examples: • For up to 5km (e.g. Civic Centre to Paarden Eiland): o If you have a Mover package, you will pay R5,20 in Peak periods and R4,40 in Saver periods. o If you do not have a Mover package, you will pay R6,80 in Peak periods and R5,70 in Saver periods. • For 10 – 20km of travel (e.g. Civic Centre to Parklands, or Gardens to Table View/Parklands) o If you have a Mover package, you will pay R7,40 in the Peak period and R6,10 in the Saver period. o If you don’t have a Mover package, you will pay R9,60 in the peak period and R7,90 in the Saver period. 9. When is the ‘Peak’ and when is the ‘Saver’ period? The Peak period is from 06:30 to 08:30 and 16:00 to 18:00. All other times are classified as Saver periods. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are also Saver periods. 10. Which Mover packages will be available? Mover packages are available for R80, R100, R150, R200, R400, R600 and R1 000, at MyCiTi station kiosks. When you have loaded one of these values, each trip will be an average of 23% cheaper than the Standard price. Travel during the low-fare periods, and you will save a further 17% on average. 11. When will these Mover packages expire? They are valid for three years. This means that even passengers who use MyCiTi irregularly can buy in bulk and use up the tickets over time. The City is expecting the large majority of passengers to use travel packages of R100 or more. 12. How will I pay for a trip? Tap your myconnect card against the validator as you enter a station or board a bus. Tap it again as you leave. The correct, distance-based amount will be deducted from your card. 13. Can I break my trip? Yes. You may get off the bus for up to 45 minutes, without being charged for starting the journey again. This makes it cheaper than being paid to start twice, as the fare per kilometre decreases the further you travel. In this case, your trip should not last longer than two hours in total. 14. How will I know if the right amount has been deducted from my myconnect card? Your available balance is visible on the validator when you tap in and tap out. You can also ask for a free statement at a MyCiTi station. 15. Will other packages be available in future, such as daily package for unlimited travel? Yes. The City is investigating which products are the most useful to passengers, and will develop more in time. Please provide your feedback to 0800 65 64 63. 16. How is the trip fare calculated? A basic fare is charged when you first tap in, starting your journey. You are then charged per kilometre. When you tap out at the end of the journey, the system works out how far you have travelled and the correct amount is deducted. The per-kilometre rate decreases the further you travel. 17. Must I tap in and tap off for ever part of the journey, if I transfer between routes? Yes. When you tap in again, the system will consider this part of the same trip, as long as you do not leave the system for more than 45 minutes. End Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, City of Cape Town"
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:35:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015