Posted July 31 at 3:48 p.m.

For the love of Mike, sometimes I hate CTA smart cards. 

Not once, not twice, but THRICE this week, I've watched a rider use the supposedly handy touch-n-go sensor only to get summoned back by the bus operator.  In each case, the card did contain value, so what's really going on?  It wasn't even a case of a rider paying the traditional way at the same time, a definite no-no...it was just a weird glitch.

The notion of the smart cards is clever and convenient.  I much prefer it to the old-school cash or mag-strip card, but we either need to have a CTA sit-down with the manufacturer of the touch-and-go device or the smart card itself because something is not right.

Check out this e-mail from a less-than-enthused CTA card carrier named Ann:

"More than half the time I get on a CTA bus, I have to scan my Chicago Card Plus 3 or 4 times before it works. Some drivers request another scan politely, and some are really rude. To the CTA generally, this needs to be fixed, as it is hardly the "Go Lane" when you have to scan your card multiple times. To the rude bus-drivers, don't take it out on me because your equipment is not functioning properly."

I'm going to look into this issue because I know it's a sore point for many riders.  CTA employee insiders, feel free to shed some light.  Bus operators too seem peeved by pesky cards.

And riders, other than Ann, how sick are you of serial swiping?

I had to get a new "smart"card and since then haven't had too many issues with the card itself. My aggravation comes with the scanners on the turnstiles at the L stops. Sometimes it doesn't read the card and I have to "re-swipe" or it will scan the card twice on it's own. Then I get a nasty-gram from the CTA for doing an "illegal" passback-- my CTA card is liinked to my pre-tax transit benefits through my employer. After getting the nasty-gram I then get the pleasure of dealing with a CSR at the CTA.

Yes, I have this problem somewhat regularly, and it is definitely a pain. You are also spot-on with the drivers, some are very polite, and others not so much! I dont see the point of the 2 lanes (or side of the door you get in on)when you can't touch your card, at the same time as somebody using a fare card. This should be an easy fix honestly...

This is a *constant* problem...interestingly enough, the only glitch I haven't run into with my Plus card is my bank account being debited for "reloading" the card.

There should be some sort of signal that a card swipe hasn't registered, so we'll know to re-swipe when necessary, and won't get yelled at by the bus drivers.

Personally, I wish they'd left the card swipers next to the other card readers, instead of off to the side. It's a pain having to ask someone standing in front of the swipe station to move when the bus is full, and I'm tired of having to swipe my card again because someone inserted his/her cash card at the same time. This should be fixed.

I think it'd be helpful if the CTA made it easier to buy CTA Plus cards. Maybe they could let grocery stores sell them.

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