mononoke Posted June 5, 2016 Report Share Posted June 5, 2016 This question is directed to Toronto/Ottawa/Hamilton students - I've seen lots of people using Presto cards instead of paying with cash or tokens, why did you get one? I've read the presto website but I don't really know what the benefit is - it's the same price as buying a pack of tokens, but also has the 6$ fee for getting the card itself. Are there any benefits other than not having to carry tokens around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellorie Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 Apparently the TTC is planning to phase out tokens and tickets, so I guess we'll have to upgrade eventually :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artier Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 Well if you have a Presto, you can use the same card for various transportation services rather than carrying around separate tickets for 2 or more different services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorelan Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 will it is automatically filled so I don't have to ever worry about having tokens or change. There are tax benefits if you are getting a monthly pass each month. It acts as your transfer so I don't have to worry about hanging on to some slip of paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdy Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 I take transit infrequently, but I'm considering getting one because I'd like to do it more but I rarely carry cash and so when I do feel like taking the bus, it requires far more advance planning than I'd like. I can pay for parking by swiping my credit card, which gets expensive, so if I can do the same for transit, I'm much more likely to do it. I also plan to do at least one elective in Ottawa, if not more, (trying to confine my electives to places where I have friends I can stay with, hah) and it'll be convenient to be able to just use the same card for another city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NutritionRunner Posted June 6, 2016 Report Share Posted June 6, 2016 I get a post-secondary discount on GO with Presto, and I don't if I buy a ticket. Plus I can use it on TTC. Mississauga buses are cheaper if I've just taken GO. So it saves me money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleS Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 You can register your presto - if you lose it, you can transfer your balance to a new card. It's also super easy in Hamilton to just tap on and off buses when you have to transfer - the Presto card keeps track of how long your trip was since you have 2 hours of unlimited travel in every direction with each bus ride (something Toronto should really adopt.) Additionally, you do get discounts on Go transit, and Hamilton transit if you have a Presto, just not the TTC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverwhale9 Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 will it is automatically filled so I don't have to ever worry about having tokens or change. There are tax benefits if you are getting a monthly pass each month. It acts as your transfer so I don't have to worry about hanging on to some slip of paper. Care to expand on the tax benefits comment? I am planning to get a monthly pass, I figured using it to commute 2x a day plus some weekends it will be worth it (I'll have to keep track to make sure). So I can buy a monthly pass plus a presto card to just scan through unlimited times per month? Do all stations have presto? Do they check ID for the student pass (it says up to 19 years... I can pass for 19 and have a student card with no expiration - or do you need a high school student card?) Sorry for the stupid questions, moving to Toronto after having a car my whole life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thestar10 Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Care to expand on the tax benefits comment? I am planning to get a monthly pass, I figured using it to commute 2x a day plus some weekends it will be worth it (I'll have to keep track to make sure). So I can buy a monthly pass plus a presto card to just scan through unlimited times per month? Do all stations have presto? Do they check ID for the student pass (it says up to 19 years... I can pass for 19 and have a student card with no expiration - or do you need a high school student card?) Sorry for the stupid questions, moving to Toronto after having a car my whole life you can claim an income tax credit equal to how much you spend (need to prove the expense so a metropass or presto are the only way to do this. Not all stations currently have presto but will by the end of the year. Theres a 12 month plan that is cheaper than student. I believe we get a UofT ID that we can use as post secondary ID. They will certainly notice a resident trying to look like a high school student. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellorie Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Residents are unfortunately not eligible for post secondary passes in Toronto. I tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverwhale9 Posted June 9, 2016 Report Share Posted June 9, 2016 Well I could pass as a high school student unfortunately (I get mistaken for one all the time), but I don't have a student card of course if that is what they want for the student discount haha I will look into the 12 month pass, I don't want to commit until I know it's worth it. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anythingradiation Posted June 9, 2016 Report Share Posted June 9, 2016 Pretty sure metro pass is ending in 2016 so everyone will be on presto by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edict Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Excited for presto, TTC finally joining the 21st century Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amichel Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 This thread has taken up far greater than 6 dollars worth of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koft Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Unfortunately, not all TTC subways stations accept Presto yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NutritionRunner Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 I'm much older than a high school student and still qualified for the post-secondary ID and discount, but this was as a master's student. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverwhale9 Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 I'm much older than a high school student and still qualified for the post-secondary ID and discount, but this was as a master's student. What did you have to do/show to qualify? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anythingradiation Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Unfortunately, not all TTC subways stations accept Presto yet. They are planning on having all stations presto enabled by the end of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NutritionRunner Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 What did you have to do/show to qualify? My UofT registration showing I was enrolled as a graduate student. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koft Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 They are planning on having all stations presto enabled by the end of the year. Yes, I know, but it is not well planned out for metro-linx and TTC, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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