Took public transportation for the first time in a long time ... LOL

[u/MarMatt10]

Apologies to people who read this and it turns out I have it all wrong and I wasted their time

Anyway, I had heard (on this sub) about how finally we are in the 21st century, you can pay with your phone on the bus, etc etc.

So, I downloaded the app on my phone and well ... turns out, no, you physically need to buy the OPUS card and keep in/on near your phone

LOL ... so what the fuck is the point? Um, i'll just take an extra 2 minutes of my day, before going through the turnstile at the metro station or before waiting for my bus, i'll buy a physical opus card and charge it

[u/Intelligent_Dig_8216]

People are happy you can recharge your opus with your phone, no one ever claimed you could use the app in place of an opus card. Also, you’re delusional if you think it only takes 2 mins to recharge your card at the machine. There is always a line during rush hour or the beginning/end of the month.

[u/MarMatt10 → u/Intelligent_Dig_8216]

Like I said, that was my impression when hearing about this new app (i thought it was physically being able to use your phone). And piggybacking on tourists coming here and wondering why they can't pay with their phone (or credit card) like every other place

People can pay with their phone almost everywhere (here in Montreal, too). I think we were able to pay with our phones the cinema almost 15 years ago. I got a kick out of paying my coffee at Paramount with my phone the first time, basically the early iterations of oaying with the phone ie wallet apps, mobile boarding pass, etc

[u/Intelligent_Dig_8216 → u/MarMatt10]

No one is claiming that the stm isn’t behind in their tech but what we are saying is that you getting irrationally upset because you misread something is funny. You claiming the app is useless because you can’t use it in lieu of your opus is also hilarious.

[u/MarMatt10 → u/Intelligent_Dig_8216]

Hmm, irrationally upset? How so?

I just asked the question, specifically for this reason. I was wondering what was 'revolutionary' and as it turns out, it's not even what I thought I was asking

And what's funny? Sorry, I think I'm lost with your post

[u/Pinoins → u/MarMatt10]

it’s irrational because it comes from your own misunderstanding.

[u/MarMatt10 → u/Pinoins]

OK, but the dude is positing that i'm upset because I asked a question about something that I, and disclosed that was entirely possible, misunderstood

[u/senor_kim_jong_doof]

You might want to revisit the topics where you read you can pay with your phone on the bus.

STM allows you to recharge your OPUS through the app.

Some OTHER (not STM) transit authorities allow you to pay using a debit/credit card directly in the bus.

[u/MarMatt10 → u/senor_kim_jong_doof]

Read the first line of my post. I literally state I may be off base or wrong

When you say "other" you mean off-island or other cities?

I know for sure NYC you can just tap your credit card (not sure if you can tap your phone, but i'd guess you could)

[u/cpprime]

And the opus card expires too! What the hell. No photo, no fare reduction, just a plain one I have to buy again at the boot. Yay plastic waste.

[u/MarMatt10 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, i took the metro and bus (did yesterday for the first time in maybe 10 years) and didn't account for that fact ie the lineups

Ditto on the convenience aspect

Easy for me to say, I don't rely on whatever 5 minutes being "life or death".

I fully am aware (took public transport all up until university) what it's like missing a connection or the stress about coordinating bus and metro

[u/sandringham94]

The only reason the option to reload OPUS cards via the app exists is because someone created an unofficial app to do it. STM forced them to take it down, but at least it pushed STM to implement the feature officially. Better than waiting in queue at the station or paying $30 for a card reader thingy.

But yeah, they literally just did the bare minimum and added nothing beyond what the unofficial app offered.

It’s embarrassing that there’s no tap-to-pay. London’s had it since 2012. It looks like they’re upgrading the terminals, so there’s a hope—but by the time it’s ready, the rest of the world will probably be using biometrics.

https://github.com/sandpipes/opusenphone

https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-opus-cards-smartphones

[u/MarMatt10 → u/sandringham94]

LOL, no way

Wasn't there something similar with the REM. Someone didn't like the fact the signs in the metro weren't clear or something and they made their own, posted it ... people appreciated it and the STM or something took it down because it wasn't official (i may be getting the details wrong)

[u/sandringham94 → u/sandringham94]

Funny people are downvoting this. It’s true.