Getting the knack for the tap

Just as Presto proponents begin duking it out with the TTC's proposed introduction of an open payment fare system, I'm getting the hang of the still-new-to-us smartcard on GO.

I think I've figured out where I went wrong using the over-ride feature on Presto. I suspect in my eagerness or anxiety I tapped twice at my destination, effectively beginning another trip when I had in fact ended my journey. But when I went to tap back on the next time, the computer showed that I hadn't paid my full fare because that "accidental" trip was never terminated.

The problem I anticipated of forgetting to tap off when I take a GO train from a station other than my regular commute hasn't materialized. I may be guilty of tapping twice a couple of times but so far I haven't forgotten to tap at all.

David Smith, who is managing the Presto project, says there are 8,000 card users. Among those 600 also use the TTC.

The TTC reckons about 10 per cent of its riders also use another transit system.