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Name the Translink Electronic Fare Card

Comments 4 by Rebecca Bollwitt

London has the Oyster and Hong Kong has the Octopus… what will Vancouver have?

In 2007 I wrote a post about a lack of fare options (or rechargeable electronic fares) for visitors and residents alike, such as the Charlie Card that I saw in Boston.

It looks like Translink has finally caught up with the trend as they’re planning to introduce an electronic re-loadable fare card for 2013. They are also currently looking for public input about the project and hosting a naming contest for the cards.

You may submit your suggestions through the online form or via text message (text CONTEST, your name, and your idea to 77777). The naming contest winner will get an iPad, and in 2013, the winner will also receive an electronic fare card loaded with a year of free transit.

You can check out more of Translink’s latest ideas and provide your input during one of their Transportation Fairs this month:

  • Saturday October 16 at Creekside Community Centre in the Olympic Village, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver
  • Sunday October 17 at the Executive Plaza Hotel, 405 North Road, Coquitlam
  • Saturday October 23 at the Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, 13458 – 107 A Avenue, Surrey

    • All Transportation Fairs run from 10:00am until 3:00pm. Participants will be eligible to win a monthly FareCard (one drawn each hour) and the grand prize – a year’s free transit – will be given away after the last Transportation Fair on October 23rd.

    I’m not sure how the naming of the cards usually work (eg. I have no idea how they came up with Oyster for London) but I’m curious to see what people will submit for the name of Metro Vancouver’s fare cards.

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    4 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

    1. Michael KwanWednesday, October 13th, 2010 — 4:15pm PDT

      I hope they post not only the winner, but also some of the names that didn’t make the cut. It is curious that Hong Kong would have the Octopus and London has the Oyster (both seafood items), when neither has very much to do with the respective city. We might as well name ours the Squid or something.

      I submitted two names that I think might be appropriate. I hope they’re okay with multiple entries.

    2. CaioWednesday, October 13th, 2010 — 9:24pm PDT

      Thats was a good one Michael.. I am looking forward for the squid in 2013

    3. JackThursday, October 14th, 2010 — 3:32pm PDT

      Sorry Michael, Oyster’s are found/farmed in an abundance in the River Thames in London, particularly the Thames Estuary. In Hong Kong as well, octopus/squid are a major fished product off shore and sold domestically and exported.

      A name for a card doesn’t necessarily have to have that much in common with the city as long as the symbolism, trademark, how it markets with the target group, and how linguistically at ease it is with those consumers that’s important. The odd names for motor vehicles is a perfect example.

      Vancouver really needs to get with the programme here and brand this product as they’re doing in large global markets. Names like salmon, evergreen, or something so stereotypical of this area will just go to show how provincial Vancouver really is.

    4. FeeThursday, October 14th, 2010 — 9:11pm PDT

      The oyster card was named so after the phrase ‘the world is your oyster’ (which I think is quite nice) and the octopus is named so because the transit in hong kong spreads out far, just like the many arms of an octopus. Has nothing to do with seafood, but good reasoning 🙂

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