With enough Plexiglass

RantWoman offers the following commentary about resumption of fare collection aboard Metro October 1.

RantWoman reads all the "Transit should be free" voices. RantWoman still disagrees: people with means should pay and transit should be a better deal than driving. That includes cost, time, ease of ride. RantWoman cannot drive so the value proposition is easy for RantWoman. RantWoman is aware this is not true for many; RantWoman is happy to coach anyone who asks about coping tips and ways to find beauty in the experience. RantWoman will not quit her day job waiting around for customers.

Fare Collection: ORCA

UPDATE: RantWoman has successfully bought a pass for October. When logged into ORCACard.com find the card number and then look for the Add Value Link. That link will take you to a screen that lets you both add to the ORCA Wallet and buy passes.

Thank you helpful human on the phone.

Now, as originally posted.

RantWoman as noted is actually glad to pay fares. Metro needs the money. RantWoman has a bus pass in her budget. RantWoman has enough stresses trying to pull threads out of RantWoman's chain of coping behaviors. Buying a bus pass, like getting dressed every day and braiding her own hair is part of RantWoman in stability mode.

Imagine RantWoman's surprise tonight when RantWoman logged into OrcaCard.com to see what is what. RantWoman thinks she bought a pass for April. RantWoman of course did not need a pass because fare collection was suspended. If there was a refund, RantWoman will have to review old bank statements because she can only see 90 days of transactions online or in her banking app. Probably the first thing to do is contact a human during business hours.

A couple notes: the website does not appear to want to sell passes, only autoloads. RantWoman really prefers not to set up an Autoload. RantWoman also actually WANTS to buy a pass instead of use her ORCA wallet. Why? RantWoman may or may not make 18 round trips / month EXCEPT when RantWoman travels, she sometimes makes several stops that add up to more than whatever the current transfer window is. RantWoman HATES even having to think about transfer windows. That alone makes RantWoman prefer a pass.

Enough about money. With enough plexiglass....

RantWoman has taken note of plexiglass appearing in MANY retail and restaurant locations. RantWoman is trying to go all "whatevs..." about the situation.In the case of new plexiglass appearing aboard Metro buses, RantWoman is glad to know she is not alone in her annoyance. RantWoman asked a driver. The driver mentioned that the plexiglass causes glare, makes it hard for him to see certain angles, and makes it hard to hear. RantWoman would not have minded guessing wrong.

Of COURSE the Plexiglass makes it safer for the drivers to deal with all the people who walk by while paying their fare. But RantWoman finds herself with complicated opinions about everyone walking by all the high-risk people who ride in the ADA Courtesy area. RantWoman is comfortable most of the time with two people or two households in the courtesy area. This is because there are many ways for people to turn away and not blow streams of droplets into each other's faces. RantWoman also wears a hat and stays seated when getting on or off the bus. So RantWoman can probably live with people streaming by breathing over her head.

RantWoman also generally appreciates that the straps closing off the courtesy area have been removed. This of course is necessary when everyone is going to enter through the front door and need to pass back past the courtesy area. And front door entry means anyone who needs it can use the life or the kneeling bus. So everyone wear your masks. People who are still afraid to go out might need to think about alternatives, but mask up. Ride safe. It's a new day.