Rant on The Spectator site

[Via Bank]

The ticket inspectors are just doing their job. If this individual has a ticket, why not just show it to them and let them be on their way?

Ms Bindel claimed (and later clarified on Twitter) that she did have a ticket, but had left it on the train. Of course, that detail is surrounded in padded, churned columnist's guff about ticket inspectors being jobsworth little Hitlers working for capitalist monsters siphoning off profit, blah blah, etc. And, of course, she has only made it worse for herself by refusing to accept a penalty fare, etc. etc., so it looks like a pretty open and shut case.

 

[SGS]

Well, I wonder if we'll get her on here asking about how to get an out-of-court settlement?

She's a rad-fem, she won't be asking any men for help, what with them being patriarchal oppressors and everything.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Is she a bit of a heart bleeding liberal?

Not really, she's one of that special breed of "radical feminists" who are absolutely stark raving bonkers.

As GatwickDepress says, she's a tool.

 

[cuccir]

She's clearly an ignorant idiot, at least on this topic.

That doesn't excuse equally misguided and close-minded comments about feminism from the last two posts though.

 

[PermitToTravel]

She's a rad-fem, she won't be asking any men for help, what with them being patriarchal oppressors and everything.

Why do you assume that we're all men?

 

[jon0844]

Ms Bindel claimed (and later clarified on Twitter) that she did have a ticket, but had left it on the train.

Who really leaves a ticket on a train?

Anyway, I've left a comment. Hope it doesn't get down voted too much!

 

[Merseysider]

Who really leaves a ticket on a train?

Anyway, I've left a comment. Hope it doesn't get down voted too much!

Out of every 100 people who claim they've left their ticket on the train, I'd estimate about 1-2 of those people actually have. It's an excuse heard millions of times over.

 

[SS4]

Why do I get the feeling the Spectator will be covering any fines? I hope the court takes into account the money this rant has made when deciding the fine amount.

Who really leaves a ticket on a train?

Anyway, I've left a comment. Hope it doesn't get down voted too much!

Someone who is above the law? (at least in their little world)

 

[Geronimo]

Out of every 100 people who claim they've left their ticket on the train, I'd estimate about 1-2 of those people actually have. It's an excuse heard millions of times over.

Have you got data to back that up? Not a challenge, genuinely interested.
If no data, what is your reasoning?

 

[Merseysider]

Have you got data to back that up? Not a challenge, genuinely interested.
If no data, what is your reasoning?

A: I travel on trains every day.
B: I disembark at the last station, so often see the train empty.
C: Capacity for Class 142: 100-120 seating and 35 standing per carriage.
D: I consistently see 1-2 tickets discarded by passengers by the point of disembarkment.
QED: Out of 100-150 passengers, the vast majority hang onto their ticket.

 

[ian959]

A: I travel on trains every day.
B: I disembark at the last station, so often see the train empty.
C: Capacity for Class 142: 100-120 seating and 35 standing per carriage.
D: I consistently see 1-2 tickets discarded by passengers by the point of disembarkment.
QED: Out of 100-150 passengers, the vast majority hang onto their ticket.

It could mean of course that the vast majority did not have a ticket to leave behind

 

[Merseysider]

It could mean of course that the vast majority did not have a ticket to leave behind

What an outrageous suggestion!

 

[Geronimo]

A: I travel on trains every day.
B: I disembark at the last station, so often see the train empty.
C: Capacity for Class 142: 100-120 seating and 35 standing per carriage.
D: I consistently see 1-2 tickets discarded by passengers by the point of disembarkment.
QED: Out of 100-150 passengers, the vast majority hang onto their ticket.

OK, thanks for sharing.

So, 1-2 tickets discarded for 100-150 passengers. 1% tickets discarded OK?

Pretty much all the data/estimates on fare evasion I have seen are in the 1-10% range. To simplify, at max, 10% of passengers checked do not have a ticket.
What proportion would claim they "left it on the train"? Impossible to know, say half (seems high from the stories read on here), but hey why not, it's probably the best excuse a fare evader can use? So around 5% passengers are caught without a ticket and are claiming they left it on the train.
Compared with 1% that actually left it on the train. Hmm ...

I would say that your initial value of 1-2% ("Out of every 100 people who claim they've left their ticket on the train, I'd estimate about 1-2 of those people actually have.") seems underestimated by at least a factor 10.

Still, thanks for explaining, interesting.

 

[Merseysider]

OK, thanks for sharing.

So, 1-2 tickets discarded for 100-150 passengers. 1% tickets discarded OK?

Pretty much all the data/estimates on fare evasion I have seen are in the 1-10% range. To simplify, at max, 10% of passengers checked do not have a ticket.
What proportion would claim they "left it on the train"? Impossible to know, say half (seems high from the stories read on here), but hey why not, it's probably the best excuse a fare evader can use? So around 5% passengers are caught without a ticket and are claiming they left it on the train.
Compared with 1% that actually left it on the train. Hmm ...

I would say that your initial value of 1-2% ("Out of every 100 people who claim they've left their ticket on the train, I'd estimate about 1-2 of those people actually have.") seems underestimated by at least a factor 10.

Still, thanks for explaining, interesting.

Most of my ticketing experience is in the Greater Manchester and Merseyside areas so obviously these can and will differ from the figures you have produced, which will be an average of some sort.

On the Merseyrail network, fare evasion is notably low due to barriers at all major stations and several minor stations, whereas in GM many stations are unstaffed so you will obviously have a higher number of 'chancers'.

And I don't go looking under every seat or in the toliets or in the vestibules for discarded tickets so my 1-2% figure will be slightly out. Nor am I a statician.

Also, do you have any links for your figures on fare evasion? It'd make interesting reading.

 

[Flamingo]

I'll occasionally find discarded tickets on a train after the passengers have left at a manned station. Usually two or three a year.

 

[tsr]

Bizarrely, one of the only places where I usually find discarded tickets is on Southeastern Metro services, where you'd be more likely to suggest people wouldn't have them in the first place

I do also see them on a few rural services, which is somewhat more understandable!

 

[tony6499]

If Julie Bindel is her real name I hope this blog article is brought up at her prosecution and it costs her more in fines or even better TfL use it to ban her from their services

 

[najaB]

In the 'article' she says "And I will now be appearing in court to defend my position. I will, of course, keep you posted on the outcome."

Does anyone know if Flamingo got his popcorn machine working, or should I bring my own?

Still the important question goes unanswered - do I bring my own popcorn or not?!?

 

[Flamingo]

Fair point, who's got the time date & venue? (Mods, please move to the "Forum Meets" thread if appropriate! )

 

[Merseysider]

Fair point, who's got the time date & venue? (Mods, please move to the "Forum Meets" thread if appropriate! )

Would it be bordering on vindictive to actively hope this vehemently anti-railway, anti-people-doing-their-jobs woman gets made an example of?

 

[starrymarkb]

Is she a bit of a heart bleeding liberal?

Believe me no!

 

[Flamingo]

Would it be bordering on vindictive to actively hope this vehemently anti-railway, anti-people-doing-their-jobs woman gets made an example of?

I think it would be very entertaining to see her trying her **** on a Judge, though!

 

[Merseysider]

I think it would be very entertaining to see her trying her **** on a Judge, though!

They say that what goes around, comes around...

 

[Flamingo]

I don't know why, but this just came to mind...
http://youtu.be/cc3Um-BBhpI

 

[FenMan]

I'll occasionally find discarded tickets on a train after the passengers have left at a manned station. Usually two or three a year.

*cough*

Did you find my ticket to Blackwater the other week? - it was last seen heading at speed towards Swindon after I carefully put it out for inspection and then forgot to take it with me when getting off at Reading. Oops.

The guy at the Reading Excess Fares window, after consulting with management, charged me for a full fare single to Blackwater to complete the journey. Fair play to them as it must be an excuse they hear all the time.

 

[Clip]

She's probably already been on this very forum asking for advice and has now settled out of court

 

[SPADTrap]

Maybe her batteries had run out that morning?

 

[185]

....this one.

Will send a copy of her rant onto Private Eye. They love destroying The Spectator's contributors. :P

 

[starrymarkb]

She's clearly an ignorant idiot, at least on this topic.

That doesn't excuse equally misguided and close-minded comments about feminism from the last two posts though.

Actually they do have a point. She only really stands for the media clique of feminism. See her rants and threats against transwomen & sex workers and attempts to silence their criticism while claiming they are oppressing her by being critical of her rantings in the Spectator and other paid media gigs

Most of the current generation of feminists won't have anything to do with her.

*For the record I consider myself a feminist

 

[Deerfold]

Actually they do have a point. She only really stands for the media clique of feminism. See her rants and threats against transwomen & sex workers and attempts to silence their criticism while claiming they are oppressing her by being critical of her rantings in the Spectator and other paid media gigs

Most of the current generation of feminists won't have anything to do with her.

*For the record I consider myself a feminist

Sounds about right.