Bus ticket checker

[oligopoly]

I catch a bus to work every week day. Once or twice a week on the way to work a lady gets on at the 4th/5th bus stop. She chats to the driver for a while and then proceeds to check each passenger's ticket. She then gets off the bus 3-4 stops later - staying on less than half of the bus route. Most passengers are half asleep this early in the morning and it seems an (unnecessary) inconvenience to ask each passenger on a double-decker bus to show their ticket. Can anyone tell me why this job is necessary? I can not understand how anyone can make it onto a bus without purchasing a ticket from the driver. The lady doesnt even check the details of the ticket, but just checks each passenger has one. I cant help but feel that this employee's wages are funded by the already high fares charged by this (private) bus company.

Opinions/suggested appreciated!

[Harley]

The ticket is coded. As the bus passes certain stops the ticket machine is updated so if your ticket is say from Stop A to Stop G and the bus is at Stop M then you have underpaid for your journey.On a crowded bus the driver can't be expected to remember where everyone has paid to go to.

[oligopoly]

yes i appreciate this, but i am talking about a situation where a) the bus isnt crowded, and b) the lady is only on the bus for one zone!!!

any other suggestions?!

[gammaray]

She has to justify her position. She's probably an inspector and has loads of bus routes to check during the day. It's a random check which may or may not throw up any anomolies. If she's been doing it a while she will know exactly what to look for on the ticket, checking which fare stage the ticket was issuesd at and whether the holder is on beyond the value of the ticket.

[teamcool]

Theres a guy in my town who gets on different buses and asks the following questions:

• What stop did you get on at?


• What stop are you getting off at?


• When you get off the bus are you going to catch another bus?


• How much is your ticket?

This also seems canny random, can anyone explain the purpose of this?

[hal]

As much as anything it helps ensure the driver is diong the job properly - not under or over charging, letting people travel for free etc.

[gammaray]

It also acts as a deterent to any one thinking about fare dodging. If you know there are likely to be random checks by ticket inspectors you are less likely to try and avoid paying your fare. It's not fool proof but it's better than doing nothing. You shouldn't complain! It's the passengers that ultimately pay for fare dodgers in higher ticket prices.

[bigbus]

she may well be a checker and they work from home so if they have to sign on b4 7am then she will get a ticket of the bus that stops nearest to her home just b4 7am this ticket is proof that she was out at work when she should have been, does she wear a uniform at all? as for the man asking all the questions thats just so they know if its worth making the service more or less frequent.

[Baby02]

Oligopoly... Whats the matter? Did the lady wake you up by any chance? You should try being a bus driver and when you come to the stop that has 30 - 40 kids waiting to board lets see how many get on without paying! Dont criticise unless you know what your talking about! Which obviously you dont because you wouldnt have posted the question in the first place!!
P.s Would ya kiss ya mom with that mouth?