So the “Voices of Dissent” experience was interesting. I’ll try to get the audio posted somehow, for download.

I realized, in the course of preparing for the interview, that my views, as we approach the rally, the hearings, and the end of the comment period, are continuing to evolve, as I look at new information, and see what, for example, groups like The T Riders Union (TRU) have done on the issue in the past.

This morning, with John, I tried to focus more on the social justice aspect, but he was very much more interested in the privacy issue that I believe Senator Barrios is also focused on. Again, transparency is key here. There’s obvious potential for abuses in civil liberties with a “smart card” like the Charlie Card. If the information on it is compiled and catalogued–things like names, addresses, credit card numbers, dates and times of boardings, and so on. I imagine Senator Barrios will speak about it briefly on Tuesday, JUNE 4TH, at 4PM in Copley Square (see map HERE).

While the privacy issue is obviously an important one (and I am absolutely sure the issue will eventually wend its way to court, as the MBTA is being typically coy about its plan for data gathering with the Charlie Card), the more immediate issue with the Charlie Card is probably one of equity–although the surcharge for not using the card is a way of coercing acquiescence on the personal data issue.

The T admits that its penalties/surcharges for using cash or a disposable Charlie Ticket to board are means of forcing compliance with the new Charlie Card, but it says the reason is increased efficiency. And there is truth in this. The Charlie Card is a “contactless” card–it doesn’t have to be inserted into a farebox or gate–you should be able to tap it and go. We all know how using coins or cash–on the bus or the green line–can significantly slow down a stop.

But the penalties for using cash or a Charlie Ticket are excessive (click the link and scroll down to pp.12-13 of the .pdf document). For a bus trip, the proposed fare is $1.25, already a 35¢ increase. The penalty for not having a Charlie Card is an additional 40¢. For rapid transit, the proposed fare is a 45¢ increase, to $1.70, with a penalty for using cash or the Charlie Ticket instead of the Card of an additional 55¢. There will, of course, be no “step-up” or free transfers with cash or ticket, only with the card.

Most of us will not have any trouble with this. Most of my friends are on some sort of corporate program, where it’s pretty much taken care of for them. But there is an issue of educating that segment of the public usually left to its own devices, something the T is certainly not very good at. Nor have I yet seen machines to add value at bus stops, and just as there are plenty of people who use the subway and never take a bus, the opposite’s true as well. Many will not be able to afford the price of a monthly pass all at once, and if they are unable to add value easily and conveniently to cards that the T may or may not proactively distribute to these populations, they will experience a near doubling of their single-trip fares.

Intermodal transfers will not be processed the same as now, either. So many will actually end up paying for transfers they are not required to at present.

The T must show that they are making a real and concerted effort to reach the most vulnerable populations, educate them, and provide them with a ready onsite means to easily add value to their Charlie Cards. if this is not done, it’s hardly fair to penalize them for not using them.