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#91

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by garbon - Today at 02:21:26 AM

Anyway, I was going to praise the methods used in Berlin to counter fare dodging (at least when I was there a few years back); essentially, open platforms (convenient for fare payers), teams of hardnosed inspectors (harder to intimidate a group of 6 than a single ticket collector) and heavy on the spot fines for dodgers. But, on looking things up it would appear that fare evasion may even be slightly worse there than in the UK.

While I thought it interesting, I always imagined the Berlin (German?) system would have a higher rate of evasion that they deemed acceptable. I would think no ticket barrier would naturally increase the number of chancers even if when you get caught it is more signficant penalty fine.

#92

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by garbon - Today at 02:19:06 AM

Faredodging is an affront to the social contract.
A social contract that is breaking down across the board and almost everywhere in the west.

We seem intent on dismantling our high trust societies in return for nothing and virtue signaling.

Fare evasion isn't new.

[the rate in London remains lower than many comparable cities in Europe and North America]

#93

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by garbon - Today at 02:18:21 AM

Completely agree Shelf. The left should be launching campaigns against fare dodgers and people who steal from public services instead of scoffing just because people like Jenrick are doing it. This is a great example of why we'll lose the next election. Always reactive and always on the wrong side of public opinion.

Wtf? I'm the one who asked if it is a real problem and mentioned Jenrick. I don't know that I'm the monolithic example of the Left and getting it wrong.

I see TfL highlights this when comparing the issue to other places:

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2025/april/tfl-introduces-new-measures-to-halve-fare-evasion-across-all-tfl-services

Fare evasion is a problem affecting cities around the world. Through the continued efforts of TfL's operational teams and innovations led by TfL's Revenue Protection programme, the rate in London remains lower than many comparable cities in Europe and North America. For example, in New York, the rate of fare evasion sits at 13 per cent on the metro system. The same rate in London would equate to over £400m of lost revenue per year. TfL continues to monitor best practice through regular international benchmarking meetings

I'll add that I was initially annoyed when I saw the news article about SWR because there wasn't any context. No idea if that was a large number that highlighted a disturbing trend or a larger number put out there to convince me that it was a signficant problem.

#94

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by garbon - Today at 02:16:39 AM

I think on the broader picture it is like shoplifting, vandalism, fly-tipping, phone-snatching, bike theft. In that in the grand scheme of things these are "minor" problems. But they are very common, they have an impact at the micro-level whether that's seeing someone get their phone snatched, being in a shop when someone shoplifts (I have a particularly bad personal experience of this) or on a carriage when someone is abusing a worker.

Do we have evidence that fare evasion is getting significantly worse? This is one thing that I could find to point to it having gotten worse in the past two years:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/fare-dodging-elizabeth-line-tube-london-underground-tfl-b1238000.html

Latest data provided by TfL shows the amount lost due to fare dodgers has risen by almost 50 per cent from two years ago– in part due to people not paying to use the Elizabeth line.

Previously TfL said the amount it lost in unpaid fares was about £130m a year.

But a Freedom of Information response revealed that the cost of fare evasion had increased from "circa £130m" in 2022/23 to about £190m in 2023/24 and about £188m in 2024/25.

Also do we know that people actually think of fare evasion in the same way as those other examples you've given that do have a direct negative impact on others in a neighborhood?

I saw this from yougov last year where you can see the older one gets the more annoyed one is about this issue but only the oldest TfL travellers want people punished even if it isn't make TfL back money.

https://yougov.co.uk/travel/articles/51101-half-of-london-tube-and-train-travellers-say-theyve-seen-tfl-staff-fail-to-challenge-fare-dodgers

#95

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Richard Hakluyt - Today at 02:05:16 AM

Completely agree Shelf. The left should be launching campaigns against fare dodgers and people who steal from public services instead of scoffing just because people like Jenrick are doing it. This is a great example of why we'll lose the next election. Always reactive and always on the wrong side of public opinion.

I would like to slag off Jenrick and take action against faredodging...that might be cakeism though?

Anyway, I was going to praise the methods used in Berlin to counter fare dodging (at least when I was there a few years back); essentially, open platforms (convenient for fare payers), teams of hardnosed inspectors (harder to intimidate a group of 6 than a single ticket collector) and heavy on the spot fines for dodgers. But, on looking things up it would appear that fare evasion may even be slightly worse there than in the UK.

It is a niche subject for sure, but if anyone is aware of a cost-effective fare enforcement system I would be interested to hear about what works.

#96

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Crazy_Ivan80 - Today at 01:38:53 AM

Faredodging is an affront to the social contract.
A social contract that is breaking down across the board and almost everywhere in the west.

We seem intent on dismantling our high trust societies in return for nothing and virtue signaling.

#97

Off the Record / Re: Vote in the Dutch election...

Last post by Crazy_Ivan80 - Today at 01:36:18 AM

The Dutch even calculated the cost benefits of immigration. Iirc it cost as much as the entirety of revenues of all the gas they pumped up.
Poof, and it's gone.

#98

Gaming HQ / Re: Miscellaneous instances of...

Last post by Syt - Today at 01:31:40 AM

Early Access "beta" unlocks on Thursday. On various videos Miles Jacobson warns that the new UI will require a lot of muscle memory rewiring and is easier on people new to the series than "people who spend 1000+ hours per title".

Fully licensed FIFA World Cup update comes next year, including managing international sides.

FM did (finally) a first look at the gameplay (with Miles Jacobson and Jarrod Bowen from West Ham Utd):

EDIT: Apparently there will be an "instant result" button included by default. This should speed up long term careers, but I kinda prefer managing the match myself.

#99

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Gups - Today at 01:27:53 AM

Completely agree Shelf. The left should be launching campaigns against fare dodgers and people who steal from public services instead of scoffing just because people like Jenrick are doing it. This is a great example of why we'll lose the next election. Always reactive and always on the wrong side of public opinion.

#100

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by HVC - Today at 12:12:09 AM

Been watching MASH for my insomnia fix. Holds up surprisingly well,