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> When the only viable option to get around is cars, there is no privacy. I don’t think there’s privacy in the tap on - tap off Oyster/Presto card world either

• sebstefan 2y ago
  I think that's more of a technicality of billing you for a service than something by design ("the tap on - tap off Oyster/Presto card " => Google sent me to "List of public transport smart cards" so I assume you're refering to some branded public transit system)
  • masfuerte 2y ago
    No, it's not a side-effect, it's a deliberate decision. You used to be able to get an Oyster card anonymously and top it up with cash. I still have one, but they are not accepted now.
    • Symbiote 2y ago
      You can buy Oyster cards at many newsagents, and top them up there too. There will probably be CCTV, but privately owned by the shop.
      • masfuerte 2y ago
        Thank you. It seems like I was misinformed. Last time I was in London my old Oyster card wouldn't work and I was told I couldn't top it up (which is probably true) and I couldn't get a new card without ID (which seems to be false).
        • Symbiote 2y ago
          Apparently even the first generation Oyster cards should work [1] so at some point I was also misinformed. On Trip Advisor some people say cards can become deactivated if not used for years, but staff in a ticket office can reactivate them. [1] https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/tfl-oyster-and-contactless-app/first-generation-oyster-cards https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets...
  • mikrl 2y ago
    Presto is Toronto’s equivalent to London’s oyster card. Actually there’s no tap off IIRC (unlike the Dutch chipkaarts) but still, I would assume the modern station where you enter is a veritable panopticon of CCTV, RF signal interception, etc
• harvey9 2y ago
  Used to be possible to buy and top up oyster with cash. Don't know if that's still the case and you will still be on CCTV at every station anyway.