U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California > Los Angeles
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Jump to a detailed profile or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Business Search - 14 Million verified businesses
Search for:  near: 
Reply
 
Unread 02-15-2012, 06:49 PM
 
294 posts, read 194,517 times
Reputation: 143
I lived in Seoul Korea for a number of years. They use a T-money card similar to the TAP card. The only places I know where you can add money are in subway stations, but I have never seen them at bus stops or online. They were convenient. You can use them on buses, subways, taxis, mini marts like 7/11. You can use these T-money cards in many different cities and transit agencies in the country. Hopefully TAP will turn into something versatile.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Unread 02-16-2012, 09:57 AM
 
39 posts, read 25,232 times
Reputation: 24
To clarify, can these TAP cards be used for metro and bus transportation? Or are these things completely different?

I"m trying to research public transportation in LA for my visit.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-16-2012, 03:34 PM
 
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles
6,400 posts, read 2,246,689 times
Reputation: 1761
Quote:
Originally Posted by Froglet View Post
To clarify, can these TAP cards be used for metro and bus transportation? Or are these things completely different?

I"m trying to research public transportation in LA for my visit.
They can be used for both.

In fact, today I bought a day pass on my TAP card, took the Red Line and Orange Line to Van Nuys and back to Hollywood. Later I will use my TAP on the #2 bus to West Hollywood.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-16-2012, 04:20 PM
 
294 posts, read 194,517 times
Reputation: 143
If you go to the TAP taptogo website, you can see which transit systems accept it.

Not all transit systems in LA county use this universal fare system.

Metro is the largest most extensive in the bus/rail system especially in Los Angeles city. A city like Santa Monica with their own bus system, does not use TAP, but I think there is a transfer system. Hopefully that changes when the Expo line goes through.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-16-2012, 04:26 PM
 
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles
6,400 posts, read 2,246,689 times
Reputation: 1761
Quote:
Originally Posted by saybanana View Post
If you go to the TAP taptogo website, you can see which transit systems accept it.

Not all transit systems in LA county use this universal fare system.

Metro is the largest most extensive in the bus/rail system especially in Los Angeles city. A city like Santa Monica with their own bus system, does not use TAP, but I think there is a transfer system. Hopefully that changes when the Expo line goes through.
Yeah I am pretty sure you can transfer from Metro buses to Big Blue Buses for free... I took the 217 to Pico and Fairfax, asked for a transfer and got a slip of paper - Which the BBB driver accepted. Unless both drivers were being super nice to me I think you can transfer.(I had just moved so it was one of my first bus rides in LA)

Now, the DASH buses, I am not sure about the transfers.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-18-2012, 09:55 AM
 
155 posts, read 208,889 times
Reputation: 68
Thank you so very much, Munchitup. I’m going to try my luck today and get a TAP card at the Green Line station, then hopefully I can pay whatever it takes to get the TAP card, and then have $20 on it. Since gas is going up once again , I’m going to start taking the MTA more.

One last thing, is there a way to check the balance on a TAP card (i.e. can I go online to get it or do I have to feed it into a fare machine to get it or can I get it on the bus)? In my case, I mainly plan to take the bus, as the light rail systems really do not help me much 99% of the time, since they don’t go where I need/want to go or even get me close to where I need to go (i.e. if I need to get from Westchester to South Gate or Downey or from Westchester to Hollywood).
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-19-2012, 01:16 AM
 
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
35,047 posts, read 8,276,966 times
Reputation: 28394
Quote:
Originally Posted by munchitup View Post
Yeah I am pretty sure you can transfer from Metro buses to Big Blue Buses for free... I took the 217 to Pico and Fairfax, asked for a transfer and got a slip of paper - Which the BBB driver accepted. Unless both drivers were being super nice to me I think you can transfer.(I had just moved so it was one of my first bus rides in LA)

Now, the DASH buses, I am not sure about the transfers.
Um ... Metro does charge for their transfers to other bus agencies ... I believe it's 30 or 35 cents, unless it gone up since I last used a transfer.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-19-2012, 02:54 PM
 
Location: Hollywood, CA
396 posts, read 274,039 times
Reputation: 306
Quote:
Originally Posted by WestCoastWilson View Post

One last thing, is there a way to check the balance on a TAP card (i.e. can I go online to get it or do I have to feed it into a fare machine to get it or can I get it on the bus)? .
The machines, at the red line stations, let you check how much of a balance you have on your tap card. Also, the tap gates display how much you have left after you have tapped your card.

I don't think any of the light rail tap gates display how much you have left. The bus...the driver MIGHT be able to tell you after you've tapped. But I am unsure of that as I have never asked.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-20-2012, 10:48 AM
 
91 posts, read 91,011 times
Reputation: 98
Sorry for the misinformation! I too have been misled by the vendor where we buy monthly passes for my husband's TAP. According to them, we cannot add a set value to the TAP--only a pass. I also have not seen this option available when adding a pass to the TAP online. So, maybe this is a service that is only available for purchase at metro station machines.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 02-20-2012, 03:16 PM
 
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles
6,400 posts, read 2,246,689 times
Reputation: 1761
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmcgill View Post
Sorry for the misinformation! I too have been misled by the vendor where we buy monthly passes for my husband's TAP. According to them, we cannot add a set value to the TAP--only a pass. I also have not seen this option available when adding a pass to the TAP online. So, maybe this is a service that is only available for purchase at metro station machines.
That is very possible... I have never added value anywhere other than the machines at the Vine St. Station.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Options
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2005-2010 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $47,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California > Los Angeles

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:55 PM.

© 2005-2013, Advameg, Inc.

City-Data.com - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 - Top