Barriers

The daily commute has its challenges (aside from the getting up in the morning – more of that in future postings), especially now that I’m back in the saddle. You’ll have gathered from the title of this posting that one of the main obstacles to my travel is the new ticket barriers at the new New Street Station.

Before the refurbishment, cycle commuting was a fairly straightforward task. The platform lift, you see, would take you directly to the concourse, where upon one could simply ride off to work in an easy fashion.

But they had to tamper, didn’t they? They just had to meddle.

In an effort to reduce fraudulent riding of the trains (by not having a valid ticket) the ‘builders’ have introduced a series of ticket barriers (think Euston Station) into the platform exits. Now I’m not against trying to catch free-riders, but the irony is that the ticket barriers are only in operation when the are ‘manned’ by railway staff. Outside of this, they are set to ‘open’, making navigating through them easy – with or without a valid ticket.

I have an annual rail pass (acquired by way of the corporate scheme). This is very convenient, in that a) I don’t need to buy a ticket every journey; b) I can travel all over the West Midlands region, at no extra cost; c) I can benefit from the Family and Friends scheme (which means when we travel by train in the WM region, it only cost £1 each for my kids).

The frustrating thing about this rail pass is that I have to physically take it out of my wallet and pass it through the ticket barrier, in order for the barrier to open and me (and Betty) to pass through.

This isn’t so difficult if you’re not trying to steer a bicycle at the same time. However, trying to get my wallet out, open it, take out the ticket, offer it to the barrier (whilst still trying to steer Betty and hold on to my wallet), makes this operation somewhat of a challenge. Frankly, it’s a faff. (There is talk of an electronic system coming soon, but – as I pointed out to one of the lovely staff – remember when you used to go on the very long car journey, on holiday? The one where you would say are we there yet? And the response would be: ‘Soon’. Didn’t ‘soon’ take such a long time? – I’m not holding my breath).

Over the past four weeks, or so, I’ve developed a strategy…

Mornings – In the morning, I pack everything into my bag, including my wallet, then when approaching New Street, I get the pass out and slip it onto my back packet ready for a quick draw at the barriers.

Evenings - Whilst packing up for the day, it is my practice to take out the rail pass, locate it in my back pocket, ready for presenting at the barrier.

Recently, whilst doing this, I took the pass out of the wallet, placed it on the desk at work, secured the wallet in my Carradice bag, unfolded Betty and set off. Frustratingly, it was only at the ticket barrier, that I then realized that I had left the pass on the desk at work. But I have a contingency – I take a photograph of the pass. So I’m at the barrier, explaining all this to the attendant and go:

“But I have a photo, if you want…”

“Ok.” She said.

I get out my phone and find the photo – it was a year out of date.

With a modest amount of pleading, the very kind attendant let me through (I think she took pity on me – or maybe, she just liked the look of Betty).