Basel’s mass transit system is made up of a fantastic tram and bus network. You can get just about anywhere in probably 20 minutes or so. They run like clockwork on a set schedule and there’s even an electronic board at the larger stops telling you how many minutes away each tram or bus is. It’s all pretty cool.
The only gripe I have with all this is the fare system. Everything runs on the honor system. If you don’t have a monthly pass you purchase a ticket (for up to about CHF3 or US$2.4 depending on distance) at a vending machine and just board your tram or bus and take it to your destination. The ticket is never collected, by man nor machine. You can throw it away once you get to your destination. The only check is the occasional inspection by transit police and a fine of CHF80 (payable immediately) if you don’t have a valid ticket. Conveniently, there’s a vending machine at every stop; 2 in fact (1 in each direction)! Sounds great so far, right?
My problem is this: first of all, the machines only take coins. No bills, debit or credit cards, and nothing like a metrocard exists. Most often, this isn’t a problem since coins are so popular. There’s no bill denomination less than CHF10 so you usually have plenty of coins. It also means you use a lot of coins and many times will find yourself coinless at the vending machine. What to do?
The other major problem is that you must buy your ticket before each and every ride since each ticket gets stamped with the current time and there’s no ticket collector. If you see a tram or bus coming as you’re walking to the stop you have no choice but to let it pass and wait for the next one. Most of the time that’s ok, but what about when you’re running late? Or when it’s cold out and you don’t want to stand in the cold. Or it’s late at night and it’s probably the last tram of the night. What do you do in these cases?
I chose to ride sans ticket. And the more often I did it without incident, the more I began to do it even when I had time to spare and coins in my pocket. Eventually I was just playing the odds and today the odds went the other way. I got caught on my way home from work. I got off by paying about CHF78 (CHF70 + 5) which isn’t really that bad of a fine. I figure it comes out to about 24-25 rides which I’ve easily got under my freeloadin belt. So at worst, we’re even, and at best I’m still up a little, but I won’t be fare skipping so cavalierly from now on.