| Author | Message | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1201 Registered: 10-2008 |
Residents of one portion of the DC area have recently been able to get something for free that usually costs money. Most of them do not know it will be free when they set out for it, and no one intended to make it free. Anyone could technically get it, though few people outside of these residents will likely take advantage of it. What is it? Immediate $p0i1ers please e-mail. It's possible that you live around here and don't know about it, though you might have an advantage! | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 2023 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is it a: object? Substance? Service? Experience? Public transport? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1203 Registered: 10-2008 |
Galfisk (Galfisk) Is it a: object? Substance? Service? Experience? Public transport? This. | ||
| Emeraldink (Emeraldink)
New member Username: Emeraldink Post Number: 496 Registered: 4-2007 |
Was there a malfunction in metro payment system? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1758 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is it the bus system? The Metro (subway system)? What distinguishes these people (related to the free service) Their age? Their hobbies? Their occupations? Their family structures? What stop they get on at? What stop they get off at? Their height? Their weight? Other physical characteristics? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1209 Registered: 10-2008 |
Emeraldink (Emeraldink) Was there a malfunction in metro payment system? Noish. Noel (Noel) Is it the bus system? Noish. The Metro (subway system)? Yes. What distinguishes these people (related to the free service) Their age? Their hobbies? Their occupations? Their family structures? What stop they get on at? What stop they get off at? This. Their height? Their weight? Other physical characteristics? No to rest. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 511 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are you one of these residents? Is there a malfunction of some sort? A computer error? A "scanning-equipment" error? | ||
| Emeraldink (Emeraldink)
New member Username: Emeraldink Post Number: 502 Registered: 4-2007 |
Were they given a free ride deliberately? To a specific station? or a number of stations? At specific dates? times? As an economic inducement? sales promotion? encouragement of civil engagement? for a sports-related? or scientific? or cultural event? just because? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1210 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are you one of these residents? No, unfortunately. I could have been, if it happened a few years ago! Is there a malfunction of some sort? Noish. A computer error? No. A "scanning-equipment" error? No. Emeraldink (Emeraldink) Were they given a free ride deliberately? Yesish--it was probably anticipated, though not desired. To a specific station? Yes. or a number of stations? No. At specific dates? Yesish. times? No. As an economic inducement? sales promotion? encouragement of civil engagement? for a sports-related? or scientific? or cultural event? just because? No to all. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 515 Registered: 4-2010 |
Has this happened more than once? | ||
| Markobr (Markobr)
New member Username: Markobr Post Number: 687 Registered: 5-2009 |
Payment methods relevant? Data processing? Construction work? Strike? Is the stop they get off less frequented than usual? More frequented? Are they indeed allowed to go for free? Or would they, in principle, have to pay their ride but nobody cares to collect the money/inspect the tickets/sell any tickets at all? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1212 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Has this happened more than once? Not that I know of, but possibly. Markobr (Markobr) Payment methods relevant? Yes. Data processing? Rephrase? Construction work? Yes! Strike? No. Is the stop they get off less frequented than usual? More frequented? Neither. Are they indeed allowed to go for free? Yesish... Or would they, in principle, have to pay their ride but nobody cares to collect the money/inspect the tickets/sell any tickets at all? ...but yes, this is closer. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 539 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does it involve a loophole? A technical glitch? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1214 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Does it involve a loophole? You could call it that. A technical glitch? No. | ||
| Markobr (Markobr)
New member Username: Markobr Post Number: 689 Registered: 5-2009 |
Do passengers usually pay for their ride after leaving the train at their destination? Are rooms, equipment etc. normally used for collecting money unavailable due to the construction work? And organising another method for collecting money would be more expensive than letting the passengers go for free? | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 2722 Registered: 5-2003 |
Anything to do with the system that lets you in and out of the station (the metal "gate" that you have to slide your ticket through)? I've used the DC Metro quite a bit on summer visits, but haven't been there for a year or two. I generally love it; the one thing I hate about it is that my relatives live closest to the Shady Grove station -- which causes me to have an earworm due to knowing a folksong of that name. | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1216 Registered: 10-2008 |
Markobr (Markobr) Do passengers usually pay for their ride after leaving the train at their destination? Yes. Are rooms, equipment etc. normally used for collecting money unavailable due to the construction work? Noish. And organizing another method for collecting money would be more expensive than letting the passengers go for free? Yesish, you're OTRT. Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo) Anything to do with the system that lets you in and out of the station (the metal "gate" that you have to slide your ticket through)? Yesish, and for anyone not familiar... You do pay at the end of the train ride. You have a paper pass that you run through an electronic sensor on the way in and out. The second time, it deducts the cost from the pass and opens a gate to let you through. That's all the specialized knowledge you need to know. I've used the DC Metro quite a bit on summer visits, but haven't been there for a year or two. I generally love it; the one thing I hate about it is that my relatives live closest to the Shady Grove station -- which causes me to have an earworm due to knowing a folksong of that name. Haha, sounds annoying. I like our Metro too. It's generally clean and efficient. Of course, since I'm a local, even its quirks are endearing to me. | ||
| Markobr (Markobr)
New member Username: Markobr Post Number: 695 Registered: 5-2009 |
Do the construction works make it possible to leave the station without passing the gates? Was a wall torn down? A fence removed? Another structure? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1219 Registered: 10-2008 |
Markobr (Markobr) Do the construction works make it possible to leave the station without passing the gates? Indirectly, yes. Was a wall torn down? A fence removed? Another structure? No to all. | ||
| Markobr (Markobr)
New member Username: Markobr Post Number: 721 Registered: 5-2009 |
Do the trains stop elsewhere than usual? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1221 Registered: 10-2008 |
Markobr (Markobr) Do the trains stop elsewhere than usual? No. | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 2846 Registered: 5-2003 |
Have the gates been deactivated for some reason? Deliberately? Is it possible to pass through the construction area to get out? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1224 Registered: 10-2008 |
Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo) Have the gates been deactivated for some reason? No. Deliberately? They're still working. Is it possible to pass through the construction area to get out? No. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1001 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is there a problem with the paper pass? Or is it still the same? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 2083 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is it intentional? Or was something accidentally damaged or destroyed? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1227 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Is there a problem with the paper pass? No. Or is it still the same? Yes. Galfisk (Galfisk) Is it intentional? Yes: their primary intention wasn't to give people free train rides, but they were probably aware it was happening. Or was something accidentally damaged or destroyed? No. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1168 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was something switched? On? Off? To something else? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1229 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Was something switched? On? Off? To something else? In a sense, you can say two things were switched...it's kind of vague, though, I know. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1179 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do passengers take the usual route from entrance gate to exit gate? Before entering? After exiting? Does the construction block the way to the gates? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1796 Registered: 7-2009 |
Have they somehow switched the inbound and outbound gates? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1233 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Do passengers take the usual route from entrance gate to exit gate? No. Before entering? Yes. After exiting? Not exactly. Does the construction block the way to the gates? In a way. Noel (Noel) Have they somehow switched the inbound and outbound gates? No. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1346 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did some part of the train's route change? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1238 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Did some part of the train's route change? Yes. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1372 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did the train take a longer route? Shorter? Same departing point? Same destination? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1240 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Did the train take a longer route? Shorter? This. Same departing point? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Same destination? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1460 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are new tracks being built? Old ones being torn up? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1243 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are new tracks being built? Old ones being torn up? Yes, either would work. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1602 Registered: 4-2010 |
Has the number of stations passed between embarking and destination changed? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1246 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Has the number of stations passed between embarking and destination changed? No, technically it's the same. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 1693 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are the stations passed in a different order? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1249 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are the stations passed in a different order? By the people riding? No. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 2557 Registered: 9-2009 |
Are some of the stations closed? Inaccessible? Do they leave the train at a different station? A temporary station? Is an abandoned station being temporarily put to use while the construction work is going on? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2018 Registered: 1-2001 |
As passengers prepare to exit, do they still scan their passes? Does the system somehow "know" that they are not at their intended destination, hence causing an error? Or is there a command in the system to not deduct the fare if the passenger does not travel to his/her intended stop? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1260 Registered: 10-2008 |
Galfisk (Galfisk) Are some of the stations closed? No. Inaccessible? Not exactly. Do they leave the train at a different station? Not really, but I think you're OTRT. A temporary station? No. Is an abandoned station being temporarily put to use while the construction work is going on? No. Ixoye724 (Ixoye724) As passengers prepare to exit, do they still scan their passes? No. Good q. Does the system somehow "know" that they are not at their intended destination, hence causing an error? No. Or is there a command in the system to not deduct the fare if the passenger does not travel to his/her intended stop? No. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2867 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does the system, when working, deduct the fare based on number of stations? Distance? Do the passengers have a choice whether to scan their passes? Or are they not able to? Are the scanners working? Is something blocking the passengers' way to the scanners? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1263 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2867 Registered: 4-2010 Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 4:02 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does the system, when working, deduct the fare based on number of stations? Distance? This, I believe. The fares jump every few stations, as one travels farther. Do the passengers have a choice whether to scan their passes? No. Or are they not able to? At one point, yes. Are the scanners working? Yes. Is something blocking the passengers' way to the scanners? At one point, yes. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3365 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are the passengers blocked by other people? Other objects? One object? A building? A train? Train tracks? A fence? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1266 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are the passengers blocked by other people? Thisish, Other objects? One object? A building? A train? Train tracks? A fence? And thisish. A man-made barrier of some kind. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3378 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are there shops blocking the way? Food carts? A physical barrier? Like guardrails? Or Jersey bumpers? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1272 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are there shops blocking the way? Food carts? A physical barrier? This. Like guardrails? I believe it was indeed portable guardrails, with some employees standing nearby. Or Jersey bumpers? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3400 Registered: 4-2010 |
So because of the guardrails, the passengers cannot reach the scanners, right? Do the guardrails redirect the passengers to another exit? Where they do not have to pay? Are not able to pay? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1278 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) So because of the guardrails, the passengers cannot reach the scanners, right? Yes. Do the guardrails redirect the passengers to another exit? Yope. Where they do not have to pay? No, except in the case of the people who actually aren't paying. Are not able to pay? Eventually they are. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3413 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it possible for the passengers to reach the scanners? By jumping the guardrails? Going around them? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1284 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Is it possible for the passengers to reach the scanners? By jumping the guardrails? Going around them? Irr. In fact, some people are allowed to use the scanners, but most are asked not to. That might help. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3519 Registered: 4-2010 |
Will using the scanners cause a malfunction? Cause the passengers to pay more? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1288 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Will using the scanners cause a malfunction? No, but... Cause the passengers to pay more? Yes. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3581 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do the scanners still record payment by the original distance the passengers travelled? But since they travel a shorter distance, they will be paying more for a shorter travel? | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 3519 Registered: 5-2003 |
Just got back from the UK, where I spent a few days on the London Underground, so... Did the gates malfunction in some way? For example, did they close so slowly that it was possible for two people to go through after swiping one ticket? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1291 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Do the scanners still record payment by the original distance the passengers travelled? Yes! But since they travel a shorter distance, they will be paying more for a shorter travel? No, they are in fact traveling the same distance...good question. Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo) Just got back from the UK, where I spent a few days on the London Underground, so... Did the gates malfunction in some way? No. For example, did they close so slowly that it was possible for two people to go through after swiping one ticket? Nope, though I'm sure it happens. | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1294 Registered: 10-2008 |
********************RECAP The thing that some residents are getting for free is a ride on the Metro, DC's subway train system. The free rides are probably known about by officials, but there isn't really any way to prevent them. The indirect cause is construction/repair work on the train tracks. The electronic scanners at the entrance and exit to the stations, which normally allow customers to pay, are also relevant. None of them are broken or malfunctioning. At one point in the journey, Metro employees and physical barriers stop customers from using the scanners. It may help to try to trace one of these "free" passengers' trips from beginning to end. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3821 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are they travelling the same distance "as the crow flies"? The same distance on the train tracks? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1296 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are they travelling the same distance "as the crow flies"? Yesish, in fact the distance may be a little different, but the basic trip is the same. The same distance on the train tracks? No. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3906 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does a passenger pay by "crow flies" distance? By train track distance? If the latter, are they prevented from paying because they would not be paying the correct amount for the trip? Would they be paying more? Less? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1303 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Does a passenger pay by "crow flies" distance? By train track distance? Hard to say. I believe you pay by stop, but the price can go up more between stops if they are far away. Not really relevant. If the latter, are they prevented from paying because they would not be paying the correct amount for the trip? Yes. Would they be paying more? Less? This. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 4490 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does the number of stops from embarking point to destination change? Because the construction causes the train to detour away from the normal stops? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1306 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Does the number of stops from embarking point to destination change? Yesish. Because the construction causes the train to detour away from the normal stops? No, the train only has one possible route to take, but you're thinking the right way. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 5596 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are the normal tracks impassable? Does the train take a different route than normal? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1837 Registered: 7-2009 |
Does the construction cause the train to skip a stop (or stops)? Is the whole ride free? Or just part of it? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1309 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Are the normal tracks impassable? Yes. Does the train take a different route than normal? Noish. Noel (Noel) Does the construction cause the train to skip a stop (or stops)? Noish. Is the whole ride free? This. Or just part of it? Also considering $p0i1ing this one... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 5692 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do Metro passengers normally scan at the start of the ride? The conclusion? Are they prevented from scanning at the start? The finish? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1312 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Do Metro passengers normally scan at the start of the ride? Yes. The conclusion? Yes, this is when the money is deducted. Are they prevented from scanning at the start? No. The finish? For the people who get it free, yes! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 5714 Registered: 4-2010 |
So the people are prevented from scanning because if they did they would be overcharged, right? And that's because of the construction on the tracks? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1318 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin So the people are prevented from scanning because if they did they would be overcharged, right? Yes. And that's because of the construction on the tracks? And yes. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 5783 Registered: 4-2010 |
Trying to clear everything up... Is there a difference in the distance the train travels? The length (in time) of the ride? Does the train pass over any tracks that are under construction? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1321 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Trying to clear everything up... Is there a difference in the distance the train travels? Yesish, but FA. The length (in time) of the ride? Yes. Does the train pass over any tracks that are under construction? No. | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2776 Registered: 1-2001 |
I'd forgotten that this one wasn't solved... So if a person gets on the Metro at Point A and wants to go to Point C, do they have to stop and scan at Point B? If Point C has the problem, can they still exit at Point C and just not use the scanner? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1325 Registered: 10-2008 |
Ixoye724 (Ixoye724) I'd forgotten that this one wasn't solved... So if a person gets on the Metro at Point A and wants to go to Point C, do they have to stop and scan at Point B? Stop, yes. Scan, no. If Point C has the problem, can they still exit at Point C and just not use the scanner? It's not exactly the final destination that's having the problem, but everyone there would be scanning. There are actually points A, B, C, and D of relevance. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6174 Registered: 4-2010 |
Point A: the point of embarking? Point D: the destination? Do the passengers pass Point B over the course of their trip? Point C? Without the construction, would they pass Point B? Point C? | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1327 Registered: 10-2008 |
Balin (Balin) Point A: the point of embarking? Yes. Point D: the destination? For some. Do the passengers pass Point B over the course of their trip? Yesish. Point C? Yesish. Without the construction, would they pass Point B? Point C? Yes (excluding anyone getting off before these points, of course). | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2821 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is there only one track that the Metro car can use? Or is there an "express track" for someone who wants to go from A to D without any stopovers? | ||
| Orangeee (Orangeee)
New member Username: Orangeee Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2010 |
Could it be that because of the construction, people have to go a longer route and are therefore overcharged? | ||
| Romcombo (Romcombo)
New member Username: Romcombo Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2011 |
Do the scanners run off electricity and do they have a generator? | ||
| Romcombo (Romcombo)
New member Username: Romcombo Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2011 |
Is the year this occurred in relevant? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
Moderator Username: Peter365 Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2011 |
Gourami. You know the drill.. if you want to rescue this from Limbo please answer the outstanding questions | ||
| Gourami (Gourami)
Moderator Username: Gourami Post Number: 1328 Registered: 10-2008 |
************************SPOILER (Due to drawn-out-ness followed by neglect.) What they got for free, back over the summer, was a free ride home on the Metro subway system if West Falls Church was their final stop. This was because the track between East Falls Church and the next westbound stop, West Falls Church, was closed for construction, although trains ran on either side of the construction. So there was a free bus shuttle to take riders from EFC to WFC, at which point the riders would get right back on the train. People pay for the Metro with cards passed through a scanning machine at the front gates. If people had to scan their cards to get out of the Metro and onto the shuttle, and then back into the Metro, they would in effect be paying twice. So workers would let passengers going from EFC to WFC through the gates without paying. They would pay once they got back on the train and reached their actual destination. Except, of course, for the people whose actual destination was West Falls Church. They could just get off the shuttle and walk home, without ever scanning their card a second time (which is when the fare is deducted). The same is true of people who were going eastbound to East Falls Church, of course. I asked one such rider, and they confirmed that they could use the same card to enter the Metro the next day, with the same amount of money still on it! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 11737 Registered: 4-2010 |
A shuttle...so simple. Nice to see you back, Gourami! |
