You may have heard us talking about fare capping recently. This month we introduced fare capping with a Presto card, a much-requested addition to the option of fare capping with O-Payment. So, what better time to share a little refresher on fare capping and how it works?
This time on The Next Stop Blog, we caught up with Brad, Program Manager, Customer Technology Systems to get his tap tips when it comes to fare capping.
Let’s take a look at all the different ways that OC Transpo customers can take advantage of this option.
What is fare capping?
Brad explained that fare capping refers to an upper limit, or “cap” on the fares that are paid over a given time period. Once the fare cap is reached, any additional rides taken during the period are free. For example, a monthly fare cap means that when you pay using single-ride fares, you can ride as much as you want all month and never pay more than the price of a monthly pass.
In other words, says Brad, “Fare capping means that even if you end up using transit a lot, you won’t be charged more than you would be if you purchased a monthly pass. If you only take a few trips, you will only be charged for each trip.”
Fare capping is currently available for single-ride fares with O-Payment on credit card, debit card and mobile wallet; or with a Presto card. Depending on which payment method you use, the fare cap applies slightly differently.
✨ Keep reading to find out more about each option!
Fare capping with O-Payment
How it works: O-Payment fares are capped per day and per month. This means that you can tap your credit card, debit card or mobile wallet all day or all month and never pay more than the price of a DayPass or monthly pass, depending on how you use transit.
O-Payment is only available for an Adult fare. If you’re eligible for a discounted fare, you should use a Presto card instead.
If you have multiple credit or debit cards, make sure to use the same credit card or mobile wallet each time you pay. Your charges are totalled overnight and will usually appear on your credit card statement in one or two days.
Brad’s tap tip: Track your O-Payment transactions and download receipts online at o-payment.octranspo.com.
Fare capping with Presto
How it works: Presto card fares are capped per month only. To get started, load your card with funds to pay per ride, then tap your Presto card on a fare reader or fare gate to pay for your trip as usual. Your fares will automatically be capped at the price of a monthly pass.
In contrast to O-Payment, Presto fare capping is available to discounted fare types as well as Adult fares. If you are eligible for a Senior, EquiPass or Community pass, fare capping will work for you on a Presto card.
Brad’s tap tip: If you want to check how many trips you’ve taken in a month using your Presto card, use the “Query Card” option at a ticket machine and look under “Loyalty” to see how many trips you’ve taken. You can also check your card in the Presto app or on prestocard.ca.
If you’re paying for an additional person with your Presto card, the additional fare will not count towards your monthly total.
Why fare capping is useful
Brad explains that fare capping gives customers more flexibility to pay for transit based on how much they use it. “Fare capping means never having to worry about whether to buy a pass at the beginning of the month. Just tap and ride, and O-Payment or Presto will automatically apply the cap.”
Can fare capping be used on Para Transpo?
Both O-Payment and Presto fare capping apply to Para Transpo trips. If you pay an Adult fare, you may be interested in the flexibility of paying with a credit or debit card with O-Payment. If you are eligible for a discounted fare, Presto is the best option for you.
When counting your monthly trips, it’s important to remember that Para Transpo rural fares are only partially counted towards the fare cap. This is because the rural fare is made of a base fare and a supplement fare. The base fare counts towards a daily or monthly cap, but the supplement does not.
For example, let’s say a customer with a Senior discount is taking a rural trip.
Here’s how the cap would work:
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$3.28 (base fare) will count towards the monthly total
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$7.55 (supplement) will not count towards the monthly total
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Total fare paid = $10.83
What about fare capping on STO?
Fare capping with Presto will not apply if you start a trip from STO. This is because per-ride fares are charged based on the fares of the agency you start your trip from. If you transfer to STO often, you should continue to buy a monthly pass on your Presto card.
O-Payment is not available on STO.
Where can I find more information about fares?
You can check out the Fares page for information on current fare options.
