Presto needs a few fixes

I read with interest article in today’s Citizen about the troubles Presto is having with getting people to buy passes and bus fares online. The Presto system is technically impressive but it has some limitations that are almost certain to annoy many riders.

One of the major weaknesses is the 48-hour delay between purchasing a pass online and the pass becoming activated for use. During this time period the system continues to charge cash fares to the account.

Recently this happened to our family. I called both Presto and OC Transpo assuming that cash fares charged in this situation would be refunded, but to my surprise I was denied a refund and told that the 48-hour delay was just the way things worked. OC Transpo and Presto need to fix this situation as soon as possible. One possible solution would be to have the system automatically refund fares charged after a pass is purchased but before it is activated.

A second weakness in the system is that setting up Pass autorenew is tricky. It appears that this can only be done when purchasing a new pass, but it can’t be done during the time period of an existing pass. It is also curious that unlike most transit systems OC Transpo has not set up automated kiosks for purchasing Presto passes and fares. These could be present at Transit Station and other public locations. Overall, Presto is a great system, but some of these technical issues need to be fixed before OC Transpo’s riders will enthusiastically use it.

SINJIN DIXON-WARREN, Ottawa