Well, I've worked out how to post a letter and I even bought some rice recently, so now I need to know how public transport works.

If I get a tram it's easy. At each tram stop is a machine with clear instructions and usually Postfinance card payment options. Easy. But what if I want to go somewhere out in the sticks and that involves a bus?

I had to do this to pick up something from somewhere around Oberwil. I bought a ticket TO my destination (tram then bus) from the tram stop. Coming back there was nowhere at the bus stop to buy a ticket, so I simply didn't bother.

I couldn't buy a return as the machines don't appear to do those. I couldn't buy two singles, as they're not stamped - they are valid (for 2 hours) from the moment the machine issues them plus you have to travel away from the ticket machine (to stop people doing a quick return on one ticket). The bus driver didn't appear to sell tickets.

So, how should I have done it? I don't have (nor want) a monthly pass. And a day ticket was much more expensive that the return. Admittedly, my method was the cheapest, but when not in LiB mode it would be good to know how to get a ticket properly.

Buy a ticket from the bus driver?

I don't think they sell tickets. I wouldn't know where to stick my Postfinance card ...

However, if the bus drivers in Basel do sell tickets onboard then that does successfully answer my question! I've never seen anyone do it though, and speaking no German I've just not bothered to find out.

From http://www.bvb.ch/en/tickets-fares/s...ingle-tickets:

"Single tickets valid for one-way trips can be purchased from ticket machines, at the BVB Customer Center, at the BLT-Service Point, or at the SBB train station; on overland bus trips you purchase your ticket straight from the bus driver. "

Just ask the busdriver, if he do not sell them, he at least can tell you what to do

a) Buy the ticket with the bus driver, pay with cash

b) Buy a 6 trips strip when you depart. On your way back have it stamped in the little machine at the front of most buses.

Or alternatively buy a whole day ticket (tageskarte).

That's where you're going wrong bud. Those crinkly funny looking bits of colored paper and round metallic discs are also called cash and Swissies always carry them in case they find themselves in a predicament similar to yours. Most of the yokels will have some kind of GA (season ticket) thereby allowing them to circumnavigate the front door and making any contact with the driver. But he is there to relieve you of said cash if you need a ticket to ride.

Buy from the bus driver or you can use those machines if you know how many zones you want to travel through . better than buying point to point because that way you can change your mind (within the zone boundaries of course). I thought you could stamp them when you got on the bus to make them valid but perhaps someone can confirm that as I usually buy the ticket then travel straight away.

Or just don't go to Oberwil. I always thought of you as a down town guy anyway.

You are kidding, right? Just get your butler to do it.

Do you have a photo of the bus? It will help us to give you a useful solution. And we like pictures of buses.

This kind of thing?

Except with the steering wheel on the other sign and the name "Bertrich"?

Attached Thumbnails

 

Answer seems to be conclusive ... pay cash and get a ticket from the bus driver. Does he have a button I can press to make him talk English?

Someone recommended a day ticket. Nope, cos they're very expensive for two journeys. Also had recommended the 6-ticket strip thing. Those are also more expensive than 6 individual tickets if you have a halbtax, which I have.

So there it is. Buy a ticket from the driver. Not that I get many buses but I've never seen anyone do that. I guess people living in the sticks have a monthly pass.

Are Mehrfahrtkarten really more expensive than individual tickets with a half-abo? I'm sure they weren't last time I looked. You can get half price ones without out the 5 for 6/ 10 for 12 option.

Yep, cheaper to buy individual tickets (with the halbtax) than either of the strip-ticket things. Seems a pity they don't sell Halbtax Mehrfahrtkartens.

As ECB says, it was a temporary abberation. I only took public transport as I was pretty sure I couldn't carry the chest of drawers I bought (off an EFer) back on my bicycle.

Really? I buy half price Mehrfahrkarten for the kids and I just assumed that the one button covered it all, small children, halbtax abos and confused city centre dwellers slumming it out in the stix for the sake of a EF Bargain ....

In that case, I shall from now on only travel by taxi.

Nice try but this has been bugging me so I checked it on the TNW website.

From FAQS
Gibt es Ermässigung mit meinem Halbtax-Abo?
Mit Ausnahme des U-Abos und grenzüberschreitenden Angeboten gelten alle TNW-Fahrausweise in Kombination mit dem Halbtaxabo

(Is there a reduction with my Half-Price Card? With the exception of the U-Abo (the yearly season ticket for NW CH) and tickets for travel over borders, all TNW tickets are valid with a half-price card)

See prices for the various zones for Mehrfahrkarten on the attached link - the Halbtax price is in the "Ermässigt." column.

mehrfahrkarten

And you can buy these tickets from the bus driver as well!

A 2 zone reduced price mehrfahrtkarte (6 journeys) is 14.00 CHF. A single ticket is 2.60. 6 x 2.60 = 15.60. It's cheaper to get the cards.

The only restriction is that you can't use your half-abo with a mehfahrtkarte for cross-border travel.

Uhm... they do.

You just have to ask for one...

Try: eine merfarhtkart mit halbtax bitte

(ps in case anyone feels like correcting my German, don't bother)

when i buy my 1 hour ticket in absel for 3.20 can i travel unlimited on it? i just read that it is one way only.