I wrote in the Oct. 25 issue of The Contributor about the changes WeGo, Nashville’s transit authority has made that will burden senior riders. The very day that issue hit the street, WeGo emailed to complain about the accuracy of the article.
To be clear, the proposed changes to senior fares that require QuickTickets, not cash are:
Seniors (Ages 65 and older)
2-Hour Pass – $1
All-Day Pass – $ 2
20-Ride Discounted Pass – $20
31-Day Discounted Pass – $33
The qualifying note reads:
Discounts will not be applied to fare pricing until the rider has a Discount ID.
My apologies to WeGo if they feel my article misrepresented them and their new fare structure. This proposed fare structure for senior riders is basically the same as it was before this round of WeGo fare adjustments. The difference is that to get these fares you have to have an official WeGo senior discount card and that specific QuickTicket.
That said, my point remains. These adjustments disadvantage senior riders.
My status as a senior rider is dependent on my ability to purchase QuickTickets. However, I cannot purchase these special discounted tickets unless I provide an inordinate amount of personal information to WeGo. In my mind, the threshold of information necessary to purchase should be “Are you 65 or older?” For the privilege to gain this status, I have to pay WeGo a $3 “processing fee” to get their senior discounted fare.
The original title of my last article was, “Hey WeGo — Process This!” Looking back, I wish I had kept that title in place. But I felt that might be a little too harsh. Now I think maybe I wasn’t harsh enough. Please stop with the senior fees and added charges! How many privilege cards am I supposed to keep track of? I’m old!
I have a state-issued picture ID card. It cost me $28 and is good for six years. It is accepted at all other businesses and state agencies that require official verification of my age and voting eligibility. Why does WeGo need to issue me another discount fare ID card and charge me $3 of my limited funds to get it? This makes no sense to me! I’m being charged extra for being 65+ for no rational reason.
The requirement that I submit to this documentation is blatantly and outrageously discriminatory. Is WeGo going to require that the parents of children under four years of age get a special $3 discount card to prove their children are under four to ride for free? And will children be required to get a $3 photo ID to take advantage of their fare discount? If not, then why are seniors held to this higher standard?
Recently, I took my photo ID to the information counter at the downtown bus station and tried to purchase some of their “senior discounted” QuickTickets. They’re having a “half off” sale until Jan. 1 and being the thrift-conscious senior that I am I thought I’d stock up on some tickets for when the prices go back up.
The woman behind the glass told me that even though I had a valid state photo ID, she would not sell me the senior discounted tickets unless I had the WeGo senior card. She also told me something that WeGo didn’t put on their senior discount form. They are going to put your picture on the card. Now I don’t just need a photo ID to drive a car in Nashville, I need a different photo ID to take the bus! This is ridiculous!
I will not give WeGo a proprietary claim to my personal information and photo. When I need to take the bus I will pay the adult fare. Otherwise, I’ll be walking. WeGo has failed this senior, again. I can hear old women across Nashville crying out, “I’ve lost my WeGo senior discount card and I can’t take the bus!”