MetroMan
Senior Member
My main concern with using a phone as a transit pass is being worried about being stranded if the battery runs out.
Like being stranded when you lose your Presto Card? Every method has its downfall. No single method is foolproof. I see no reason to fear using a phone just because a battery may die out, when you are just as likely to drop a card, lose a wallet, run out of change etc.
(I for one have left my wallet at home more times than I have allowed my cell phone to completely run out of juice)
Just as likely? I've never lost a transit pass in my life, dating back to 1980. I've had a couple of lost wallets in those years, but fortunately never during a period I had a pass. So worst case is 2 losses in 35 years.
I easily have more occasions like that in some weeks, when I pull out my phone, and discover it's not on, middle of rebooting, or out of power.
I even use my iPhone as the keys to my home. I don't carry a wallet or a set of keys. Am I worried about the battery running out? Nope, I have an Apple Watch as well and it never runs out of battery.
This morning I went on a long run with my dog with nothing but my Apple Watch — no wallet, not even a phone. Along the way, I stopped in to Tim Hortens for a bagel, then at Shoppers for a bottle of water. After about 10K, I found an excuse to take the streetcar home and try ApplePay. I tapped my Apple Watch on the ticket vending machine inside and it worked!