Oh dear! I've been nabbed by the much feared TPG or transport stasi.
I was running hopelessly late for an appointment to view an appartment in the Champel area of Geneva.
There you are at a bus stop; moral dilemma alert. The bus is approaching over the horizon, la femme in front is paying for her ticket with every available 10 cent piece she has. You have paid every other time you travelled and you have'nt seen the transport stasi on any journey.
I chance it, just this time, and pray. Beads of sweat drip from every pore, guilt knotting up every internal organ. One stop disappears, two stops...then three. I start to relax, "the TPG won't be up and about on la dimanche", I mutter to myself. Next stop; six burly, surly figures decked in black are stood waiting, "probably going to a door security convention" I tell myself.
They all get on, they all carry handheld machines...."oh my god! Are they tasers......oh jesus it's the transport stasi". "Bonjour monsieur, puis-je voir votre billet, s'il vous plait?", "OK, OK...it's a fair cop! Clamp the irons on officer, burn me at the stake, but please don't hurt my family!"(none of this last statement actually happened).
I am now 80CHF lighter and very much wiser. The moral of the story is BE LATE, BUY A TICKET AND DONT MESS WITH THE TPG. Here endeth the Sunday lesson.
PS am a relatively new arrival in Geneva. Any english speaking, especially those learning French, fancy getting together to share any hard earned wisdom with my wife and I?

Make sure you have spare advance tickets and be organised ahead of time including arrive with plenty of minutes to spare. Take a risk you know the potential consequences

Actually yet to experience what a fine looks like

So sorry for your bad experience, BUT
- where were you sitting ?
- where did the come from ?

They entered one or two stations before, and were clearly visible as those controllers always are

Wollishofener, please don't mistake me. This is merely my sense of humour.
I absolutley should have bought a ticket regardless of my timekeeping.
The TPG were quite right to give me a fine. I am just pointing out to people, who may be unaware that they should also buy a ticket even when there is no time. I dont consider it a bad experience just a lesson for me anf for all

Alright, but a good look of the window ........

They're not always that stupid. Sometimes they just check everyone - those who are inside and those who step off. No way to escape.

The most hardcore checks I've seen are done in M1 in Lausanne. They basically close all entrances of the terminus Flon station save the main one. Then they build a wall of ticket controllers and guards with dogs and stuff, and everyone is forced to leave the metro from one side and pass throu the wall.

No escape either.

I used to wait on the other side of the wall and watch people fall on the web hihi it was quite funny

Same here, Zurich - Seefeld.

quite right but you can see them gathering

So have you bought an abonnement now? http://www.tpg.ch/tarifs/tous-les-tarifs;jsessionid=9A6EA4E790325BE16FB558AF9760ED64

Passes

Transferable 7 days pass (2) 38 CHF 65 CHF
Monthly pass 70 CHF 119 CHF 45 CHF 50 CHF 85 CHF
Transferable monthly pass (2) 110 CHF 187 CHF
Annual pass 700 CHF 1190 CHF 450 CHF 500 CHF 850 CHF
Transferable annual pass (2) 1100 CHF 1870 CHF

A monthly pass costs CHF 70 which is cheaper than a fine.

OP,

Buses to Champel (No. 1, 3 & 8) are very regular during "normal" hours.

TBH, the Stasi were very much in evidnce over the weekend. I got checked twice.

I like how the Basel lot try and look inconspicuous with six guys evenly spaced down the platform with identical casual coats and shoulder bags... and that they wave to the driver as the tram pulls in.

Anyone without a ticket who doesn't notice that and get off straight away deserves a fine!

next time, just tell the driver you didn't had time to buy your ticket.
They are usually ok and will give you time to buy it (at the stop or at the next one.

And if *guards* come on board, they usually tell them about it.


adding : and welcome in Geneva and on board this forum.

Our local route, the Z, has tickets machines on the bus, do the routes that run wholly within Geneva not?

In Geneva only the buses that serve the rural routes have on-board ticket machines. And that can depend on the route as well. The D usually uses vehicles that have them, the 4 (which crosses the borderr to the outerskirts of Saint Julien) isn't consistant about it. But speaking to the driver and explaining usually works; he'll wait at the next stop while you buy one at the roadside machine.
Can't speak for other cantons though.

Inspectors will often get on at the traffic-lights or a couple of hundred metres beyond a stop, so spotting them at the stop itself isn't always possible. The driver then 'locks' the doors so you can't get off anywhere except at the front door until the inspectors have finished checking everyones ticket.

Funny, I tried this once, as there was construction at the normal bus stop and the replacement stop had no ticket machine. I told the driver that I wasn't able to buy a ticket, and he told me that I need to get one at the next stop. I asked if he would wait, and he said "If you're quick enough". Well, I wasn't (as there was someone also scrambling to get a ticket), and he took off without me. Thanks for nothing, jacques-asse!

OMG! The TPG check you in Zurich too? Is there no escape?!

Too true. They are so easy to spot for a seasoned BLT/BVB traveller.

if you spend each and every bus journey looking out the window. Which also suppose the bus is not too crowded to obscure your view.

Generally you only need to look if you don't have a ticket...

which is why I always buy a ticket. then I enjoy the journey in peace and read a book.

I always worry about this!

Since I rely on public transport everyday, I got myself a monthly ticket.