How could the creators of one of the cleanest, most efficient, and well used subway systems in the world…develop this system for ticketing. I have read the instructions in both German and English, and I’m still not sure if I’m paying the right amount. Usually that’s not a problem though, as Munich uses the honor system for travelers. You’re expected to punch and validate your ticket at entry – but no check point exists to make sure you do so. About the only thing prompting this compliance, is the fear that the rambling DB police will come on your train and ask you for a valid ticket. If not, you suffer the shame of being escorted off the train and a hefty fine. So what’s a guy to do? I cop out and buy the monthly pass from my favorite English speaking ticket vendor for wherever I want to go. No ticket purchases, no validation, and no fear of public humiliation. Just free wheelin all through town.Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What Were They Thinking?
How could the creators of one of the cleanest, most efficient, and well used subway systems in the world…develop this system for ticketing. I have read the instructions in both German and English, and I’m still not sure if I’m paying the right amount. Usually that’s not a problem though, as Munich uses the honor system for travelers. You’re expected to punch and validate your ticket at entry – but no check point exists to make sure you do so. About the only thing prompting this compliance, is the fear that the rambling DB police will come on your train and ask you for a valid ticket. If not, you suffer the shame of being escorted off the train and a hefty fine. So what’s a guy to do? I cop out and buy the monthly pass from my favorite English speaking ticket vendor for wherever I want to go. No ticket purchases, no validation, and no fear of public humiliation. Just free wheelin all through town.
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4 comments:
If memory serves this is the same routine as in Paris. Just don't get caught. It sounds like the checks in Munich may be somewhat less frequent than in Paris, though.
Beware of the evening trains (between 8 and 10pm), particularly the U2. I do this commute 4 nights a week for my German course and tickets are checked at least 2 or 3 of the 4 nights. Funny, I saw almost the identical post on another Munich blog... apparently you're not the only one commenting about these ticketing machines!
Oh, and the by way, so neat that you're from SF too! We lived on Lake street for a while, then moved to SOMA. We'll probably move back there sometime this year.
I looked for that post I was talking about on the other Munich blog, but couldn't find it, so did a search and apparently this is quite a common thing to blog about! he he. Here is a funny post to check out:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.travelpod.com/users/lafalot/thumbnail.large.germany_2005.1115427660.tickets_machine.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lafalot/germany_2005/1115427660/tpod.html&h=113&w=150&sz=4&hl=en&start=38&sig2=3SkfDtZm07yvHAMshgK-Ew&um=1&tbnid=-MTg-JhhK-2qsM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=96&ei=l_cGSIu7HIzwwwG23KGRCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DU%2Bbahn%2Bticket%2Bmachine%2Bmunich%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4IRFA_enUS227US228%26sa%3DN
Hey, by the way, what are you guys doing here in Munich?
During my last trip to Germany, I quite liked the ticketing setup, it is a fair advance on Hobart, Melbourne or Sydney!
But the juvenile in me couldn’t get beyond repeating to my (then) girlfriend “we better get our Fahrk – en tickets before we miss the train!” I must have said it 50 times in two weeks, laughing like a drain every time. And yes, she married me!
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