Stopped at gateline by another passenger

[maniacmartin]

A rather humourous interaction occurred for me today at my local station.

The staff at my local station now know me by sight and know that I hold a season ticket valid at this station, which does not operate the gatelines. They usually don't ask to see my ticket and open the gate for me when requested.

Today I flashed my ticket towards a member of staff whilst walking towards the wide gate, who nodded at me but didn't say anything or move towards me. I then tailgated behind another passenger through the gates, as I believe that this was what the staff member intended me to do.

The other passenger was more alert than I was expecting, as he stopped and turned around to block my way, telling me that I needed to pay for my journey. Upon production of my ticket, he disappeared pretty sharpish

Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else (been challenged by another passenger)?

 

[Nym]

Do get looked at funny sometimes when tapping through my other half (who is travelling on paper tickets) with my period ticket on an Oyster Card that simply opens the gates...

Off gateline staff (whenever they decide to actually look at the gateline at Euston) and other passengers... hehe...

 

[185]

Revenue Protection advisory video from TfL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDM7VU8S3cM

 

[Nym]

Oh god, I'm so going to make that now!

 

[bb21]

Do get looked at funny sometimes when tapping through my other half (who is travelling on paper tickets) with my period ticket on an Oyster Card that simply opens the gates...

Off gateline staff (whenever they decide to actually look at the gateline at Euston) and other passengers... hehe...

Not really permitted so you could be on dodgy grounds if spoken to one day.

Best to avoid it.

 

[SS4]

I've been stopped by other passengers who decided that they should immediately stop and check their phone/put their ticket away or wait for their mate to pass through another gate if that counts

 

[AeroSpace]

I agree that it is best to avoid it, since it looks very dodgy, but how is it not permitted?

 

[michael769]

I'm pretty sure that showing a conductor your magic wand would not satisfy byelaw 18

 

[maniacmartin]

I'm pretty sure that showing a conductor your magic wand would not satisfy byelaw 18

Sigh

 

[wintonian]

I agree that it is best to avoid it, since it looks very dodgy, but how is it not permitted?

Byelaw 9(2), I think would cover it.

(2)Where the entrance to or exit from any platform or station is via a manned or
an automatic ticket barrier no person shall enter or leave the station, except
with permission from an authorised person, without passing through the
barrier in the correct manner.

Whilst an authorised person can give you permission to not use the barrier it seems to me that they cannot give you permission to pass through it in an incorrect manner - unless I am reading that the wrong way?

 

[trc666]

I've had someone attempt to tailgate behind me at Holloway Road tube station before as I was going in, had a feeling he was going to do it so pretended to stop and adjust my shoelaces as I'd got through and the paddles shut on the bloke :P

 

[michael769]

Byelaw 9(2), I think would cover it.



Whilst an authorised person can give you permission to not use the barrier it seems to me that they cannot give you permission to pass through it in an incorrect manner - unless I am reading that the wrong way?

No my interpretation is that they could.

 

[craigwilson]

...I then tailgated behind another passenger through the gates, as I believe that this was what the staff member intended me to do.

The other passenger was more alert than I was expecting, as he stopped and turned around to block my way, telling me that I needed to pay for my journey. Upon production of my ticket, he disappeared pretty sharpish

The other passenger probably wouldn't have seen the gesture from the staff member.

I wouldn't have disappeared ....I'd have told you that as you had a valid ticket, then you're perfectly fine to wait for the gate to close and then the staff member can let you through, rather than invade my personal space by tailgating.

Personal space is hard to come by sometimes on public transport. So in areas where people expect some space, you shouldn't be surprised that they challenge you.

 

[maniacmartin]

It is very easy to tailgate without invaliding someone's personal space with a wide gate. They allow an awful lot of time.

 

[34D]

The other passenger was more alert than I was expecting, as he stopped and turned around to block my way, telling me that I needed to pay for my journey. Upon production of my ticket, he disappeared pretty sharpish

Full marks to the other passenger. I've done this myself a few times. I don't like being tailgated either.

 

[michael769]

While I can understand the sentiment and even applaud it, I would urge people not to put themselves at risk and leave policing the railways to those trained and supported to do so.

When challenging an absolute stranger consider that you know nothing about them or what they might do, or indeed if they are carrying a weapon, and while thankfully very rare the possibility of being attacked without warning and injured cannot be ruled out.

 

[barrykas]

I agree that it is best to avoid it, since it looks very dodgy, but how is it not permitted?

It's a breach of Condition 6.1.4 of the TfL Conditions of Carriage:

All Oyster cards remain our property and must not be intentionally damaged, altered or tampered with in any way.

 

[causton]

It's a breach of Condition 6.1.4 of the TfL Conditions of Carriage:

There is nothing to say they have tampered with the card, they could have just put a whole Oyster inside (it looks big enough) - just an elaborate ticket wallet

 

[wintonian]

While I can understand the sentiment and even applaud it, I would urge people not to put themselves at risk and leave policing the railways to those trained and supported to do so.

If the BTP ever turned up with any speed then I'm sure station and on-board staff would.

 

[craigwilson]

While I can understand the sentiment and even applaud it, I would urge people not to put themselves at risk and leave policing the railways to those trained and supported to do so.

When challenging an absolute stranger consider that you know nothing about them or what they might do, or indeed if they are carrying a weapon, and while thankfully very rare the possibility of being attacked without warning and injured cannot be ruled out.

You don't necessarily have to challenge them....just conveniently stop for a second in the appropriate place to block them following you through.

I've mentioned this on here before...I always make sure that anyone in front of me has successfully opened the gate before I insert my ticket, as that's the other way people can cheat their way through, using an invalid ticket and then relying on the following person being on autopilot with inserting their ticket. They then get through on your ticket and you're stuck!