How Our City Created An Official Tourist Trap

[@adrianacernochova]

As a Czech person I'm on the tourists' side in this case. There's no need for the whole process of buying and validating the ticket to be so complicated. I have no words for the inspectors.. scumbags.

[@maxjogwich6241]

We have something similar in Germany as well -.-

[@Kborodo740]

clearly he was pushing for a fine, he kew exactly that this was mistake not to avoid paying for a ticket

[@Abwehr9]

​@@maxjogwich6241Wo denn das? Also wo ich wohne muss man nur streifenkarten abstempeln

[@FXP1688]

Don't ask the German public transport system. It works the same way.

[@samteks125]

​@@Abwehr9München z. B.

[@Maxime_K-G]

The ticket inspectors were malicious, lying to the tourists on multiple occasions. Shocking!

[@albex8484]

is this shocking? I've heared/seen government officials lie so much, that I stopped believing them all togheter. Government workers have zero consequences to lie/cheat. If they are frustrated(which they are, cuz they work for the city), they can scam people.

[@pakan357]

They were bullshitting a couple of times, but ultimately they were 100 % right to fine the guy. "Yes, I can show you the receipt I bought winter tires for my car, I just didn't put them on my car!" Doesn't work this way. Ignorantia juris non excusat.

[@eight7934]

guess i wont be a tourist their jeez

[@albex8484]

@@pakan357 one right doesnt repair 10 wrongs. I feel like it's important for government workers to know their own work and be correct and professional about it. If i start lieing on my job 10% of the time, I lose all credibility.

[@pakan357]

@@eight7934 With your spelling, you better not be. Eww.

[@martinendrst1410]

As a Prague citizen this is beyond infuriating, the incentive system for inspectors (and by extension the dpp) is totally idiotic and only creates a conflict of interest. In this case, single use tickets should not need to be validated, period. And as for those two scumbags I have no words, they should not be working with the public.

[@czsokola]

there are definitely cases where you benefit from buying tickets in advance and USE it later. e.g. train stops outside prague in middle of nowhere

[@domiibunn]

​@@czsokolathan just use the app? Or a longer period ticket if you're going in and out. Single use should be valid straight after purchase especially at a stop like this. Ok at metro or a bus sure but there why?

[@Makrelacz]

@@domiibunn I think Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, the simplest solution would be not take advantage of confused tourists and check the tickets at the entrance.

[@erikthehalfabee6234]

What exactly could be the incentive for the inspectors? They get paid a bonus? Is their employer a private or public entity?

[@Makrelacz]

@@erikthehalfabee6234 I don"t know how much is it now, but few years back they received around 150,- CZK bonus for every fine they collected.

[@esbendit]

It is great, not only do you get a ride, you also get a short introduction to the works of Franz Kafka.

[@osasunaitor]

Hahaha underrated comment!

[@ceasium98]

Now I'm convinced Der Prozess was the result of Kafka not validating his ticket

[@almostrandomnickname]

hhahahah

[@christopher9727]

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[@SerPodrick]

If Officer A says the ticket is valid, but Officer B says the ticket is invalid, the ticket is both valid and invalid

[@MatthewTIERNEY]

So… it’s a tourist trap.

[@jonmobrien]

Yes. By definition, it's designed to force tourists to pay a ransom to get their ID, possibly their passport back, as they have no time to fight it in court. Shame that it cut off showing how the police also corruptly backed the inspectors.

[@qwertt14]

@@AHEANIMATION it is

[@tmg2442]

Yep, it is. Not sure why he says it's not in the video, after basically describing exactly the description of a tourist trap and also calling it that in the video title. He's probably trying to keep on the right side of certain official individuals who will be taking an interest in his videos.

[@qwertt14]

@@tmg2442 I don't think so, strictly speaking it's not trap, but the intention to withhold or making it more difficult than necessary, things typical of tourist traps, is there

[@tmg2442]

@@qwertt14 if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck

[@Chuustix]

Man as a tourist I'd get so stressed out by the seemingly conflicting information presented in a very narrow space, plus with the bad reviews I'd probably avoid this altogether even though it seems like a cool thing to visit.

[@TheStunningParallel]

@@JohannaMueller57 You ooze of nonchalance and prejudice. can people have a freedom of choice, without having a risk of being scammed? Or should everyone just be "normal" and follow the herd? Personally, I think these small trams are charming and you get a nice view while riding it. There are plenty of uphill places to get your exercise in Prague, if you're looking for that.

[@PneumatinisPlaktukas15]

@@JohannaMueller57 Ok and what if I like riding trams or cable cars because they don't exist in my country? I suggest you stop being a dick to people and let them do what they want.

[@Asbjoern]

It is, was there before summer. Had to double and triple check that my 72 hour ticket was valid. Was quite hard to understand, and then the sudden rush when you finally get indoor.

[@Jayfive276]

@@JohannaMueller57 I'm none of those things and I've walked up that hill. It is NOT an easy task. Especially if you don't go up the castle steps and go left and just go up the hill itself.

[@jamespppyacek342]

It's actually fine. Just don't be rushed, and find or ask for the validation station. Get a phone translation app.

[@jess_o]

That system appears so unnecessarily confusing that it has to be intentionally hostile. Shaking down tourists for bogus fees because they didn't do the correct song and dance for the ticket they ~JUST~ paid for is pure criminal villainy as far as I'm concerned.

[@jess_o]

The inspector threatening to call the police, at an additional cost of hundreds of pounds to the tourist, only reinforces my opinion that everything about this is purposefully predatory.

[@samuel2291]

I totally agree, I know this is controversial but it's stuff like this that makes the West think twice before choosing to holiday in Eastern Europe

[@Dero02]

@@samuel2291 I don't think it's that controversial. We mostly understand it, some of us a bit begrudgingly. I'm Czech and this sustained "eastern" (unhelpful, rude, self-centered, petty) mentality is something I'm having a hard time coming to terms with as well. It's getting better by the year, though, and incidents like these are becoming less frequent over time. (Also, what Janek said in the video is true -- majority of ticket inspectors in Prague already are professional, helpful and well mannered.)

[@PneumatinisPlaktukas15]

@@samuel2291 It shouldn't be controversial. So many ticket inspectors all over the world are power hungry pricks who think they can do whatever they want. They should be held accountable for their actions.

[@FriedrichHerschel]

The thing is: if you do not validate your ticket, you could use it again, for example the ride back down.

[@xinesita]

I lived in Prague for 3 months many years ago and I remember ticket inspectors disproportionately targeted foreigners on public transports, because they knew they were more likely to make mistakes and therefore be fined.

[@danking7460]

Imagine being so miserable that you take joy in tormenting others. If at least the inspectors put the money in their pockets and be called thieves, but no, it's just gratuitous cruelty.

[@filipdostal381]

ticket ispectors getting bonuses to their salary based on how many people they fined, so it is actualy money for his pocket.

[@PATISLAV]

True, when I was riding without tickets (it was kind of sport, tbh), I felt more calm when tourist were around. I knew inspectors would target them first.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@filipdostal381 As much as I hate America sometimes, that sort of thing would eventually lead to a lawsuit against the relevant transit agency for violating people's civil rights. Targeting based on national origin is illegal when it comes to public accomodations.

[@FOXMAN09]

I remember when i arrived in Prague's central bus station and discoverer euros nor credit card were accepted to buy tram tickets (only czech coins ffs) and the only convenient money changer at the station charged a ridiculous rate so i just walked to my rental 45 minutes away because i figured id be targeted. The apt rental owner said he never bought tram tickets but he was czech and im not so im sure i did the right thing lol

[@jonathanbowers8964]

They should just rename this the Franz Kafka experience, because it feels like being a character in one of his novels.

[@Pfromm007]

So true 🤣

[@notmyopinion4981]

Thats Sooo accurate omg

[@some______guy]

Great comment.

[@Desdress]

yea. prague is proud of him, not realizing that he was writting about them. this ticket situation is emblematic of how things work in prague and czech republic in general.

[@SuperWurstgesicht]

A guy like you should exist for every tourist city. Please continue! (I love Prague btw)

[@MXedos]

No. He praises the system ,saying "it is all good, do not worry about it". But in fact the system it is wrong, crafted to target the tourists and milk them for noney.

[@D3m0manTF2]

I was in Prague as a Slovak tourist so I could speak to everyone normally and the treatment you get is much different than when you are an English-speaking tourist in general. I took this ride both ways and on the way up there two ticket inspectors stopping the foreign tourists and making them pay because of some silly things. There was no ticket sale guide person, let alone even anyone operating anything there. One guy came and opened the "gate" and that was that. Probably the scummiest experience of Prague even if it didn't effect me personally.

[@Draggrat]

I guess you haven't noticed, but these tourists were paying the fine in Polish Złoty, what means they're from Poland. While our languages aren't the same with Czech, we surely can communicate in native. It's just easier in English. Honestly, while in Bratislava I had a great experience as Pole, a lady in the reception desk of my hotel was trying to greet me in Polish, and people were awesome, I had a 180 degree different experience in Prague. I even felt some hostility toward me once when I spoke to my niece in Polish. The guy behind me in shop queue called me "f...ing Pole". It's a beautiful city, but due to that experience I think at least some Czechs are racist towards Poles and consider themselves to be "superior" 🙁

[@jackieking1522]

@@Draggrat Not to worry. The whole area will soon have the survivors all speaking the same language.

[@elpusegato]

Thank you for making Prague a better place

[@biglupullive9317]

I don't live there but thx too

[@RUHappyATM]

I'm really getting a very bad image of Prague. Too bad, I was going to visit it soon.

[@TheStunningParallel]

@@RUHappyATM Yeah, this is my first thought too! It seems they haven't considered that this awful system, which is backed up by the city officials itself, will gather poor reputation and anger, before even going there. This channel is known for exposing scams on the streets, but this time it's the city itself that is at fault. It's simply unacceptable. Honesty goes so much longer. I think tourist traps like this is so medieval and stupid. There's none of this if you travel to Scandinavia.

[@RUHappyATM]

@@TheStunningParallel Yeah, I was thinking, Prague would be a nice place for me to spend 3 months. Let them enjoy my foreign-earned money. Generate employment for themselves. But, but, not to a society that scams their visitors.

[@mecclad]

Make him the MAYORRRRRRRR

[@CrazyHD7188]

I was there 1 month ago. I use the public transportation app, which is rarely mentioned by Janek. I validated a 3 day ticket. But when i came to the fenicular place, there where absolutely no information on how to enter with an already purchased validated ticket. I almost bought a new ticket because there were no people helping tourists. But i stood in line and waited , and thankfully, showing the app to the inspector was enough. But that place clearly need more updated and clear information for tourists.

[@remuslazar2033]

You watched the Janek and Honza Show

[@Beggggg]

So again nobody to help is around and the inspectors are present at the same time...🤔

[@somethingsomething404]

Do you mean the inspector at the top? Or the person meant to help at the bottom

[@mickimicki]

Many years ago, I visited Prague, and on the very last day of the trip, we used the underground for the first time, to get back to the train station. We had very little Czech money left and bought our tickets, but then proceeded to go down to the platform without realising we were supposed to validate the tickets on the ticket hall level, not on the platform (like in the rail systems we knew) or in the train (like in trams). Two inspectors watched us go to the stairs, stopped us and made us pay a fine for trying to go to the platform without stamping our tickets. We didn't have enough Czech money left to pay the fine, so they made one of us go to a cash machine and withdraw money (an inspector accompanying me to make sure I wouldn't run away!) Now, we had not been trying to dodge the fare. It was a honest mistake and we were on our way home, so we were not likely to use the un-validated tickets again. To cut a long story short, after being obviousIy targeted and milked by these inspectors, I have not set a foot into Prague or Czech in more than 20 years (had been there at least 5 times before that). I thought they might not like Germans in their country (just their money), but maybe some people there have the same mentality towards all foreign tourists.

[@Lizardmium]

Something similar happened to me when boarding tram in Olomouc. I bought the ticket not from a machine, but from a driver. I was in rush and every time i bought a ticket from driver (for example when getting bus). I didnt need to stamp it anywhere. So i got it from the driver, did 10 steps and sat down on a chair. Immediately a woman in poncho approached me (inspector). Asked for my ticket. I gave it to her. She fined me 1400CZK. Argument that she can ask driver as i bought it from him literally minute ago and she even saw me wasnt valid. So i got out, called the number on the fine (their dispatch or something where you are supposed to pay the fine). Talked politely with the woman on phone, explained to her what went wrong. From 1400CZK fine it went down to 30CZK as "service fee".

[@Liusila]

Still you had to pay the service of getting fined! These people can fucking suck it, it’s such an evil thing to do.

[@badrobie86]

I could instantly feel the frustration of the guy, as I had identical interaction in Bucharest. They claimed everything is written down (in Romanian), they didn't want to acknowledge the receipt from ticket purchase, threatened that police will fine you way more than them... It's frustrating when you dodge scammy taxi drivers and then basically get scammed by officials in public transport.

[@ah321]

I am sorry you had such an experience. For public transport, Bucharest got rid of paper tickets and stamp ticket validators in 2011. We have only card tap machines since then. So today, one can pay either with credit/debit card, or with a public transport card. You tap the card when you enter the bus/tram and it’s valid for 90 minutes, so you won’t be charged again if you change bus/tram and tap again within that interval. Note that some (older) buses/trams may have two different types of machines inside, where only the smaller type is for credit/debit card; look for the wireless payment/maestro/mastercard/visa symbols to identify it. You also have the option of using an app, the 24pay app, to purchase your ticket before getting on the bus/tram; also valid for 90 minutes and you can see exactly when it expires. And as a 4th option, pay by SMS is also available (with clear instructions in every bus/tram), but tourists should not rely on this one, as I suspect you need a SIM from a local national carrier. While some tourists may get a local pre-payed SIM plan for their time in Ro, it’s unlikely they’ll have planned for excess credit on it to have available for SMS ticket purchases. If you ever travel to Romania again, I hope you’ll have only good experiences and find the country has improved in a lot of ways!

[@alexanderpedersen1401]

Hopefully the city sees this video and put in place measures to prevent this from happening. Ticket inspectors are the only benefactors of the current situation.

[@castorchua]

@@JohannaMueller57 Bingo, there's plenty of systems out there that do not require validation, inspectors or any insider knowledge, this has been chosen.

[@JohannesNikitin91]

Prague thinks mass tourism is their problem so they don't care if they have some bad imago.😑

[@mrkv4k]

@@castorchua Yeah, about 80 years ago... Cmon, grow up. This isn't a scam, it's simply how things work for decades and how are locals used to do it.

[@vaseklepic12]

@@castorchua this way people can buy multiple tickets at once and validate them before use (though most locals have a long term pass so it's not useful to that many people)

[@castorchua]

@@vaseklepic12 it's useful to the many people using it to fleece tourists.

[@jenniferbrown4375]

I took the funicular this May. There was a school group ahead of me, maybe 20 kids and 4 adults, all milling about in front of the gates, so I couldn’t see the machines or validators etc. As it happens, I did have a Lítačka, so I didn’t have to pay, but I wasn’t sure about that, and when the train arrived, the staff opened the gates and rushed everyone on to the train. I was trying to show them my phone, to check everything was in order, and they just shrugged at me. There’s a very good chance, if I hadn’t had the Lítačka, I would have been at the top without a valid ticket.

[@weltraumvogel2]

​@@JohannaMueller57 It seems like it's only a scam if certain inspectors work at the top. I guess they share the extra-payment with the driver and the staff at the bottom, for more tourists to get scamed.

[@samuel2291]

The ride itself isn't a scam, just the bad actors, just like how the Czech Crown isn't a scam, just the doggy currency exchangers.

[@luckygozer]

@@samuel2291 Perhaps but when a system is badly made and confusing that leads to people getting scammed. When action then doesn't get taken to atleast try to improve it or even simply be more lenient in understanding that people will make mistakes you become partially complicit. If you pay inspectors a bonus for every fine they hand out then you incentive them to hand out scam fines. At that point you are partially responsible for the scam.

[@samuelgunter]

anyone know what it means to "validate" a cable car ticket? a ticket should be "valid" once purchased, or have details about a specifc time/date on them. a stamp to represent that its been used makes sense but having 2 stamps on a 3 day ticket, making it incalid, doesnt make any sense the only thing i can think of thats "validated" is something like a parking garage fee, where a business can "validate" your parking, meaning they either pay for your parking or let you use one of their credits or they have a deal to just let you out for free

[@yndeloos]

I went to Prague and had this exact issue, just at the metro, not at the cable car. The app ticket validation takes 3 minutes and apparently in those 3 minutes you may not enter the platform yet. We went onto the platform and I had 4 seconds left and the inspector told me to come scan it quickly. Then he fined me because my ticket was not valid (if he would have been 4 seconds later it would have been valid). Kinda ruined my day lol.

[@VickyG212]

This system is a trap

[@Pyrochemik007]

I forgot to validate my ticket once. The inspectors used UV lamp to check if I really bought it at the station I claimed to get in, found out the hidden ink (location+time), confirmed I likely did not lie, ripped the ticket´s marking zone and left me with a warning. Those two should lose the job. We should especialy be more tolerant for tourists, it is easier to make a mistake when you are overwhelmed by new perceptions. Tourism is a source of income, we need satisfied tourists who come back and tell all their friends.

[@danielch6662]

The system of paying the inspectors based on the amount of fines they generate is insane.

[@common_c3nts]

What's the point of validating the ticket again after you purchased it? This is a scam.

[@saaraa7876]

I put my ticket the wrong way around in the validating machine in Germany and never have I been looked at with such contempt as the ticket inspector did lol. She didn’t fine me or anything but she obviously thought I was the dumbest person alive.

[@Keneo1]

@@common_c3ntsso you don’t use it twice I think this is not fully explained in the video, But you buy a ticket that is just a ticket. It is valid for years. You can gift it to someone. You can mail it to a friend who will come to visit the city in a few weeks. Then when they arrive with the ticket, they validate it. Marking it as used by having the date stamped on it. Just als you would with a metro ticket in the Paris metro.

[@EdinoRemerido]

Well, yea, its the same logic as, customer is always right, but you shouldn't go around kissing their a$$.

[@janakrcmarova6586]

I am from Prague and I saw very kind and helpfull ticket inspectors and a very bad one too. When I see that some inspectors are clearly bothering tourists, I offer to help and you'd be surprised how aggressive they sometimes become. Once I was even grabbed by the neck. Since then I always ask for their ID and take a picture of their numbers.

[@stprk]

Hi Janak, I have a question. Once I validate my 72 hour ticket before getting on the bus, do I need to validate again later in the day or next day for the metro or tram or bus? Also, do the tourists 65 and older age have free transportation in Prague. Thank you.

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@stprk If it's a paper ticket you should only validate it *once* - The first validation shows it's been used, and where and when you started using it. The validity lasts either 72 hours from that point, or that and the next two calendar days, depending on the terms of issue. 📆 As given in the video validating the ticket multiple times will almost certainly invalidate it unless the rules specifically command you to do this. The easy way to check is to see if your ticket has spaces for multiple validation stamps. If it only has the one, then you only validate it once. 🎀 If it's an electronic ticket on a mobile app, then open the ticket in the app and follow the instructions for that ticket in the app - Electronic tickets normally work differently to paper ones, but in an app the terms and instructions should normally be displayed under the ticket in the language of your device. I can't answer on the free bus question as I've never been to CZ (The above is taken from experience of similar systems in Germany) but the best person to ask is a bus driver or tourist information centre. Best document to use for proof-of-age is an EU format drivers licence. 🙂

[@david.janovsky]

Metro, TRAMS (not trains!), and buses are fine with just passport.@woodendoorgarage

[@mjtallon7101]

Is it a tourist trap? Maybe not. Is it a massive scam? Absolutely.

[@drakath111zx]

honestly is more like a very strict enforced validation. In my opinion i rather have this than new york city train station or just a bunch of high theft/criminal area

[@iohin]

The rules are hard to understand. There is no incentive to simplify the rules because the simple rules don’t bring the revenue to the city

[@mobilegameadsdontdeserveto6010]

I went to Prague this summer and gotta say, the ticket system you guys have there is the most confusing public transport system ive ever encountered. It all made sense after a little while, but when you just arrive, it can feel like you're always doing something wrong.

[@alerighi]

Well I mean, I'm from Italy and here validating tickets it's the norm. Though nowadays the validation can be made online or trough an app, and if you buy ticket with the app/credit card they are validated the moment you buy them. But still paper tickets needs to be validated one way or another, otherwise, how can you check that the same ticket it's not reused multiple times? Does in other countries tickets not need to be validated?

[@dykam]

​@@alerighiFrom someone who isn't aware of those systems, in Italy it's sometimes similarly confusing. It makes sense but the way it's setup isn't intuitive for tourists. With many systems you'd get prevalidated tickets, and the option to buy one which isn't validated yet if you so desire. But the vast majority of people buying tickets want to use them right away, hence it should be the default.

[@dykam]

To be clear, I understand why it works the way it does.

[@Hephaestus_God]

You should't have to validate a ticket you bought to begin with. The ticket should be bought with set times (1 hours, 3 days, at 4:30, etc) and just be validated by default because you bloody paid for it.

[@metodichachov8653]

I've had only one similar incident in Czech Republic and it was on a local train from Prague to Velke Popovice (going on a tour in Kozel brewery). I needed 1h ticket for the trip but didn't know I had to validate it before entering the train. That's not how train tickets work anywhere in Europe. Nevertheless, I went on without validating it. I asked a man and a girl sitting next to me if it was OK but they dodn't know or didn't want to tell me anyway. When the conductor came she noticed my ticket haven't been validated and I went on explaining what had happened. The girl that was sitting next to me backed up my story too. The conductor then waited for the next stop to come and told me to validate the ticked on one of the machines there. I was surprised I didn't get a fine instead and I'm still grateful for this gesture.

[@xBox360BENUTZER]

Not completely correct, you also have to validate them beforehand in the netherlands although you won´t get in without doing so anyway.

[@wernerleinberger9847]

Yes, i know exactly that train. I had Support by CZ Friends. How you liked Kozel Brewery? 😊

[@timbrust9739]

@@xBox360BENUTZER what haha we don't have a ticket validating system. We don't even have timed tickets except for peak and non peak. I don't think you completely understand the validating system.

[@vikthor9327]

> That's not how train tickets work anywhere in Europe. Well, that's not exactly true: 1) Some regional train tickets in Italy have (or at least had) to be validated too. 2) What you actually had were actually not train tickets but public transport tickets on an integrated train route. Now this might feel confusing, but it works like this for example in Warsaw, you can ride some trains with (some) validated public transport tickets.

[@PG-nf9wx]

this system is very common in Germany and Austria

[@Jayfive276]

It's not just tourists and not just Prague - a couple of years ago my step-mother who is Czech got on her bus home from the centre of Liberec at like 6am after a night shift at the hospital heading to the outskirts of town where she and my Dad live - she was still looking in her bag and stuff for the bus pass/ticket when the bus moved off. At which point an undercover (!) ticket inspector positively leapt up and immediately demanded a fine for not validating the ticket before the start of the journey. The argument was much the same as the recording - these guys do not give an inch. In my step-mums case even other passengers were complaining that this was BS. The transport in Prague and Czech in general is amazing - but the inspectors are massive dickheads. And they are paid and trained to be massive dickheads. They are on quotas to get as much extra revenue as possible.

[@Pidalin]

It's interesting that so many people had so many problems with ticket inspectors. I never had any problem, but my father was a tram driver in 90s and they hated ticket inspectors back in the day. But they hated even bus drivers. 😀

[@demanorazfly]

That's just racket at this point

[@amunak_]

You can actually protest paying the fine. For one you can (and should) make their life as difficult as possible, even wait for the police, etc.; chances are they will let you go. Just don't give them your details, don't sign anything, stick to your story (i.e. they didn't give me the opportunity to validate the ticket). What's BS in this video is how the ticket inspector is lying to the police, knowing that the tourist can't even understand them and defend themselves.

[@Pidalin]

@@amunak_ Good luck with that, you just gave the instructions how to end in a jail at the end, because that happens when you escalate things and deny to pay a fine. Police is mostly good in Czechia, but they have only some patience and when their patience bar is empty, you will end on the ground with knee on your neck and then you can sue them for kneeing on you just because of stupid ticket, except it's not because of stupid ticket. 😀

[@castorchua]

@@Pidalin You sound like you could do with some Czech cop love 😃

[@gailgorenflo3501]

“You can buy a ticket that is already validated (1:50) but you must use it right away, if you wait 5 MINUTES it’s no good”. Seriously? 5 MINUTES? That doesn’t sound weird at all! Sounds like there’s plenty of opportunities for the ticket inspectors to make bonuses!

[@mellie4174]

Y'a the whole thing sounds rigged to me

[@holger_p]

No, it's maybe 20minutes Or so. But it has some logic, if you use the ticket to go up, it must be invalid to go down again. So the time frame MUST be elapsed by the end of the ride. That's a bit dangerous if there is a queue of people waiting, the other tickets you stamp when boarding. On busses or trams or so, the time frame is 60minutes most often and allows transfers.

[@cdv130]

I'm from Latin America, I backpacked thru a ton of countries in Europe, and only in the Czech Republic did almost get scammed by someone... Like at every turn in Prague it seemed there was some sort of scam, from the currency places, to actual shop owners trying to short-change you cuz you're a "clueless tourist." It seems cultural almost!

[@vnenkpet]

It's not cultural. literally every place outside of the god-awful historical center is basically scam free, I'd bet most people of Prague don't exactly choose to go there unless they have to most of the time, or at least I don't

[@kosminuskosminus6668]

the lesson? : DO NOT GO TO PRAGUE

[@orys]

"This can get a little confusing if you are a foreigner". Apparently it's a little confising even if you are Prague's own honest guide :-)

[@CristianNazare]

When you started explaining the ticketing system i was like "nope, f that, sounds like a scam". And yes, it turned out to be a scam :D

[@holger_p]

No, that's the normal way all tickets in central Europe work. You buy a ticket, like a stamp. Not saying on what letter it should go, or when you want to mail. And if you want to use it, you write the date/time of 'now' on the ticket, mostly there is a machine putting a timestamp on it. This way it's ensured, you don't use it twice, you don't go up and down and up and down, cause the time on ticket has elapsed. It gives the freedom of free entry into any vehicle into any station. Without bareers, checks, or whatever.

[@CristianNazare]

@@holger_p No, it's not. I live in Central EU and we don't have 3 types of machines (that all look the same mind you) giving out 3 types of different tickets (1:07-1:50)

[@holger_p]

@@CristianNazare Yes, that adds extra confusion, but nevertheless, it's the both systems that exist. The system like in the London or Paris Metro, with checking each single ticket on entry, is rather rare. I think on Prague metro they have it too. The other system is like on a regional train, you have to hold a ticket and you board the vehicle and sit down. That's it. No regular checks. If this validation thing is complicated, and they try to help people by selling validated tickets, you call this try to help a scam ? No, it's just a bad way to be helpful. I also find ticketing systems difficult sometimes, but I realize, I'm to stupid to understand it, it's nobody elses fault.

[@azleazz]

I think I met these two this summer, on the metro. Me and my fiance had bought tickets in good faith, but we didn't notice the sign that we needed to validate the tickets. But we bought tickets for every trip. We noticed them and could easily have turned around, but we were sure everything was in order. I didn't really argue, but tried to explain what had happened, but they just told us that we would have to spend a night in jail if we didn't pay right away. I doubted that, but didn't want to risk it in a foreign country. The experience was so uncomfortable that I am unsure if I will return to Prague, even though the rest of the city was amazing.

[@mmmm-tb8zz]

our co-workers are either illiterate or imbeciles, sorry

[@AtaGunZ]

if this is even remotely a possibility, I am never going there. It's a short bus ride away and I had plans to go, but threatning tourists like that is not okay, especially when you are some sort of authority. They would never be able to jail someone for a 80 eur fine, they release actual money exchange scammers after a quick interview. From the comments you can see a lot of people had this extortion happen to them, and most of them had to pay without the chance to appeal, some were physically assulted (grabbed by the neck), most were threatened with jail time, and coming from some sort of authority, it is absolutely disgusting. If it was 1-2 instances I wouldn't be seeing this many comments saying the same thing.

[@jetsetjourneysofficial]

I would avoid Prague

[@osasunaitor]

​@@AtaGunZthe one who was grabbed by the neck wasn't a confused tourist, please read the original comment again. It was a local resident who knew these thug inspectors very well and offered to help some tourist victims when they were stopped by them. The inspectors got angry at her for intervening and grabbed her by the neck.

[@AtaGunZ]

@@osasunaitor unfortunately, at the time of my comment, there were multiple people saying they were grabbed by the neck.

[@RinoaL]

This is clear manipulation, can't not take the tourist's side. Almost feels silly to pretend there is an option.

[@takysoft]

Visited last year! It is a tourist trap. We waited for 20 minutes in line, and when we entered the building, we WERE rushed to BUY TICKET NOW, car is leaving... So we did... and had NO TIME to read around and realize, that our 3 day pass is ALREADY valid for the ride. It is a tourist trap! We lovad Prague alltogethr, and if there was no show and ice on the hill, we would have walked. PS: The other stupig thing in the city: The metrnonom... when it's even a tiny bit wed, that marble is insane slippery :D

[@alext6933]

I would rather stay away from this rather than risking the situation

[@kidla12345]

why, the ticket thing is easy

[@Pidalin]

or you can have properly validated ticket and you don't risk anything 🙃

[@amunak_]

Which is really sad but understandable. Prague must do better - have better signage, and here perhaps even have an actual turnstile to check the tickets first.

[@castorchua]

We have the same attraction in HK, the Peak Tram, but without the scam fines and shakedowns.

[@kidla12345]

@@castorchua those aren't scam fines, it was the tourist fault, the sign saying how to do it correctly is big enough. You hate Prague without any reason.

[@jamesl9371]

I’ve lived in Taipei and everything is so easy to use the MRT / subway/ transit even in English. And the staff are very helpful and honest. And there’s lots of staff there. Even security guards are helpful. They use cards called Easy Cards. I’ve gone back after a couple of years and the Easy Card still works and still had the money on it that I put 2 years before. It’s fantastic! Everything should work like that. I love Taipei

[@holger_p]

If it's easy, you don't need any staff. That's a contradiction. If you know a system everything feels simple. the word is, it feels familiar. Learning to buy a card, loading money on the card without knowing how much I need, and then using this card, is a few steps. And then you know, when leaving the country, the residual money is lost on the card.

[@jamesl9371]

@@holger_p when you leave the country the money is still on the card. I’ve come back a few years later and the money is still there. Fantastic! And I love having actual people on staff there. Machines can’t do everything. People are there to assist you if needed. And they are there for security and maintenance and cleaning

[@holger_p]

@@jamesl9371 I understand, but as a tourist, I usually never come back. The world has 200 countries to visit. Sure people are helpful, But wouldn't it be better, you don't need help ? This would be my definition of "easy"=help not required. In a safe country, you don't need security. I feel unsafe by security, because they consider me as a threat, they are telling me, I'm doing things wrong or whatever.

[@jamesl9371]

@@holger_p it’s very simple. Use the money on the card before you leave. In Taiwan and many places you can use the card to buy things in shops. And even in a very safe country things happen like accidents and medical emergencies. Machines will never completely replace people. Thank goodness

[@JerjerB]

I love Taiwan. I've been 7 times. It's honesty central.

[@taylankammer]

That is the most stupid, convoluted, impractical, and unfair ticketing system I've ever heard of. And based on how rude and scummy the inspectors are, I'm 99% sure that they just pocket the money most of the time. Even if the city pays inspectors for "catching" invalid tickets, that payment is obviously not going to be equal to the fine; otherwise the city would be losing money on the whole ordeal. So why would they *not* pocket the money.

[@gnowland]

Omg this is such a simple problem to solve: get rid of the validation machine and just have a human stamp the tickets with one of those mechanical timestamps. They’re already paying for a human to be there to babysit the machine, so it wouldn’t even cost the company any more money. In fact, it would actually SAVE the company money because they could fire the ticket enforcers and stop paying their perverse incentive bonuses for “catching” clueless but well intentioned tourists. By moving the enforcement to the front of the process, with a welcoming staff, everyone wins. I’m a software engineer but this is a clear example of the fact that some things shouldn’t be automated. There, I solved it 😁😁

[@sumitgautam7627]

I was in Prague in 2022 at this location, exactly same situation happened with me, I bought the ticket 30 mins before and after coming back from hill , i was Inspected by ticket inspectors and they did the same which you shared in the video and in the end they charged me 1000 ie 40 euros, I can personally say they are very rude, they do misbehaviour, totally disrespectful towards tourist, they are not helpful and because of them only I don't want to visit this country again in my life and I recommend same to my friends and knowns as well.

[@gneruinseruihnutshnu]

There are 3 different public transport ticket machines next to each other and they can be indeed confusing, even Janek made it confusing when explaining. One of them sells tickets with timestamp, that are valid (start their active time) when bought. The other one (the bigger one) gives out without timestamp, these can be used anytime after, but you need to print a timestamp on them to activate them (validate) in that third machine. The first machine (the one with tickets active instantly) is relatively more modern and is usually placed inside trams and busses themselves, while the older bigger one is sold only on platforms, outside. But it gets more complicated when in some places, like in metro or this cableway, they put these machines next to each other on entrance.

[@VNYoshi]

Having the general ticket machine there is frankly the issue, especially in a tourist-heavy destination. Vancouver had the same system, but you cannot get the non-validated ticket outside of convenience stores, which are sold in packs with a discount afaik. They moved to mostly tap, though buses still sell one-time tickets if you ask the driver. Reading the comments made me appreciate the system here (Vancouver) a bit more. The fares are straight forward-ish, and they got rid of varied bus price as people were getting overcharged if they forgot to tap out. So all bus rides is the same fee, limited in a 90 minute trip. Train ride cost varies, but mostly to the benefit of the rider (not always).

[@positron96]

oh, this is indeed more explanatory than in the video, thank you!

[@mark9294]

Honestly, it’s not that complicated when you’ve been to a place that requires validation of public transport tickets (for example, most German cities). It’s only an issue if you’re entirely unfamiliar with the concept of validation by timestamp

[@LooNeYlv]

The same is in Riga, Latvia, where public transport ticket inspectors have additional monthly 'bonus' for each person caught and written a fine. Sure on one hand it motivates to do the job right, but it also really enforces a strict 'black or white' policy that unfairly inspectors will just use to get additional monthly maximum bonus undermining reputation for the whole ticketing system and public transport. (p.s- the ticket validation inspection here is Riga is brutal, you are treated as a hardcore criminal, they of course lock the electronic validation machine before(drivers have a heads up and they know where are they), they stop between stops, only open doors for inspectors to get in, then they fast close it, so you are not allowed to get off. Also there is a police present and they also are inspector side, enforcing you to pay the fine and dont care about your excuses..) 😉

[@animeleek]

Bolt for the win there😂

[@JohnDoe-bd5sz]

In Denmark parking attendents do not get a bonus for every car they write a ticket, this would be illegal, but instead they are met with insanely high demands on how many tickets they must write in a day so either they get "creative", they work longer hours until they meet their quota OR they get fired for "poor performance" There have been so many cases where they were caught doing shady stuff, but the companies they work for get away with it by claiming this is the individual inspector that has gone bad...When in fact they encourage them to do these things.

[@xyzmanizator]

And then you can just stealthily put a 10-euro note into ticket inspector's pocket and they would forget that you don't have that ticket.

[@kheldaur2107]

That ticket system is needlesly complicated.

[@WelsyCZ]

The tickets could be unified, but it is not difficult and 5 minutes of preparation before going to a CITY YOU DONT KNOW will give you all the info you need. Most of these incidents are because tourists assume stuff they shouldnt and proceed to get mad that it doesnt work like in their country. I will admit that some of the inspectors are assholes though. Tourniquetts at the fenicular are definitely a good idea, however a really bad one in the rest of the city.

[@kotoucjan]

@@Joe-sg9ll Actually, the ticket system in Prague is not complicated at all. If you take 3 minutes of your time and look it up on the internet or just look around you at the station. I travelled across almost 40 countries and used public transportation in hundreds of cities, and I never had any issues. Just don't be lazy.

@@kotoucjan this is not public transport ticket, this is cable car ticket, not interchangable

[@kotoucjan]

@ Well, that is not entirely true. The cable car is part of Prague Public Transportation. It is included in any ticket that lasts 24 hours or more. You pay extra only if you don't have any. But it is almost always worth it to buy the 24-hour ticket for 120 Kč because you can take the cable car and regular public transportation. And you can buy those in all machines at the cable car station as well. That is why there are ticket inspectors there. Because it is part of the system.

@@kotoucjan but you can't buy the cable car specific ones everywhere, your argument is stupid Why sell ticket specific to only cable car at the entrance to cable car that needs validation? Yea sell it somewhere else, but wtf, you're not gonna use the ticket anywhere else and it's only valid there

[@JanParawan]

Who the hell invented this ticket system? You should use the ticket to open the gate by scanning it. Scanning means you validate the ticket and can open the gate. Second validation should be possible only on the gate at the top, when you want to go back. Simple as f... And you Czechs dare to call Poles cheaters xD

[@themomorain]

Why is entire Prage just a scam? I don’t get it. Looks beautiful but I would never go there because you get scammed everywhere!

[@anthonysiu6010]

It’s obvious who’s in the wrong here but first of all what a badly designed system

[@maxsnts]

The problem is the incentive. If they get more for every fine... you can be sure they will find people to fine.

[@timothyphillips679]

This is like a speeding fine - incredibly easy to avoid. Make sure you have a valid ticket before you travel. The funiculor railway is not like an international service if you miss it, you just wait for the one on the way down they are reasonably frequent and its hardly a massive walk up in any event.

[@Maurazio]

maybe it's just that they do skimming with knowledge of the company lol

[@nydydn]

@@timothyphillips679 no, this is nothing like a speeding fine. Also it's not easy to avoid. This is the exact point of this video, that this fine is not easy to avoid.

[@danielch6662]

@@timothyphillips679 oh, it's a scam alright. Think about it. It's a funicular. There's only one line. Why are the ticket inspectors placed at the end of the trip trying to trip people up to generate fines? Just place them at the entrance. They can just stand at the entrance gate/machines, and watch as people validate their tickets. And stop anybody who don't validate their tickets. The fines are totally unnecessary. Just a way to generate more money from tourists because they messed up using an unfamiliar system. It's not like a bus network, where people can get on and off at any of hundreds or thousands of stops all over the city so it's impossible to place an employee at every stop. The funicular only has two or three stops.

[@Tomas.P]

Chování některých revizorů je fakt otřesná vizitka Prahy. Mám mezi nima už několik "známých", o kterých dopředu vím, že se chovají hrubě, sprostě a navíc neumí anglicky. A turistům nejenže nevysvětlí co po nich chtějí, ale navíc jim vyhrožují, viz. video Honzy a Janka. Tihle lidi mají opravovat eskalátory, ne komunikovat s lidma.

[@Pidalin]

Jak se to stane že člověk takhle zná revizory? Nejezdim na černo, takže žádnýho neznam. 😀

[@Tomas.P]

@@Pidalin taky nejezdím na černo, ale používám roky každej den tramvaje a metro, občas i autobusy, za tu dobu si člověk některý obličeje zapamatuje. Plus pracuju na Veleslavíně, což je oblíbený "odchytový" místo pro revizory, číhají tam na turisty každý den, aby jim následně mohli předvést svoji neangličtinu a agresivní jednání.

[@robinsebelova7103]

@@Tomas.P Takovéhle revizory ráda trolím tím, že mi nestačí pouze odznáček MHD, ale požaduji po nich platnou legitku se jménem a fotkou. Koneckonců, to právo je zvájemné. Oni mají právo vidět platnou jízdenku, já zase jejich legitku. XD

[@kotoulekl]

nepište jim české komenty, skazí jim to algoritmus

[@Pidalin]

@@Tomas.P V Praze už nebydlim asi 10 let, revizora jsem roky neviděl, nebo se tam někdy mihli že jsem si jich sotva všimnul, ale když jdu na férovku suverénně směrem k nim, tak mě nekontrolujou, oni to nějak poznaj že člověk nemá platnou jízdenku.

[@user-oc1rn3ft1b]

*Obviously it's a scam, if they have upstairs ticket inspectors. If their interest would be to buy and validate the ticket, they would be downstairs and check there, but they wait at top like eagles on they prey.* Who would buy a cable cart ticket to save up for later by do not validating, you use once in your trip and never again. It's not like a bus ticket what you would want to use multiple times, and you want to save it by not validating the ticket.

[@fabianstoll]

The ticket inspectors should get fired. Extremely unprofessional and how they try to scare him from getting the police is very shady. Did they fire the inspectors? No, don't give me this bull shit that it is usually a good company with good people. A good company is improving and does not look away in case of a problem.

[@PG-nf9wx]

not sure how Czech law works, but in Austria and Germany it has be "intentional", so if the ticket was purchased just minutes ago for this vehicle (it should have date+time printed on it), it could be fought off. the inspectors know this and usually validate it themselves

[@Pidalin]

Ticket inspectors in Czechia don't have any legal power, they have to call a police when you have some problem with them. Validating tickets by conductor sometimes happens in train, but train conductors are mostly much more friendly than city "revizors" who probably can't even do that. And I kind of understand it, you have system with time tickets which have to be validated and when people don't care or screw such simple thing 500 times each day, you just can't always help to everyone and tolerate that again and again. In all countries I visited where they have paper tickets, there is difference between tickets bought from machines and kiosks (you can buy them on stock, you have to validated them and it's on better paper) and tickets which are already validated which you buy from bus driver or machine inside of tram, these tickets are just simple white paper with text, you clearly see what kind of ticket you bought if it's that type which is already validated (that nice looking) or ticket from bus or tram which is already validated, it's pretty simple and it's the same in most of countries, you never validate tickets which you buy from a bus driver, but you have to validate tickets which you bought like day before in kiosk or machine somewhere at street, it's totaly logical. People are that lazy that they don't even look on that ticket, there is literally sign "validate here" and still, they don't do that, they don't care and then they complain about rude ticket inspector. In Vienna, it's not that clear, it generally works the same, but you don't know how to put that ticket to validator because there is nothing like "validate here"

[@simonjirasek9602]

Inspectors here get a cut of the fine, so they don't want to pardon violations.

[@futurerails8421]

At least in Germany fare evasion has to be intentional to have consequences by law but the 60€ fine is defined not as a fine but as a contractual penalty. Some inspectors are nice and some vehicles have the validation inside but when you leave the vehicle and it's still not validated the ticket you need to pay. This is because some people buy tickets and validate them only if they see an inspector otherwise they leave the vehicle and reuse the ticket next time.

[@Pidalin]

@@futurerails8421 "This is because some people buy tickets and validate them only if they see an inspector otherwise they leave the vehicle and reuse the ticket next time." I know people who do the same and ispectors also know that people are trying that, so that's why they don't tolerate that, it's not that hard to understand it, people are just trying it all the time and if they tolerate that, everyone will be doing it.

[@sarowie]

@@Pidalin No - there are social experiments that honor system statistically and pratically can work.

[@lydiafrost8769]

I have had bad experiences throughout Prague with ticket inspectors and heard many more from English speaking friends over the past few years I've lived in Prague. A friend of was forced to pay the fine on the spot because he had forgotten his year pass at home. He knew he didn't have to pay it and that it's possible to get the ticket to pay later and take it to the office with his pass and only pay a small fee. However, the inspect started yelling at him and forced him to pay which is absolutely not legal

[@mabot72]

If I buy a 72 hours ticket I can ride the funicular, without do anything at the machine right?

[@Rootsfran]

Yes because you would have already validated it when you first used it and it will already have a time stamped on it.

[@Z_E_B_O]

It's something different if they didn't have a ticket at all. The fact they had to pay a fine even though they had a ticket that just wasn't validated is a scam.

[@BraveHornet]

This just goes to show how amazing Czech people are! Admitting your home country did something wrong, it kind of hurts! Yet I have seen tons of comments from Czech citizens that think there should be change. Czech people > Czech government

[@Coconut_Head]

How did you not mention that you can travel with a normal day pass for all Prague transportation system for the same price as a round trip ticket on this? Also a scam how they don't allow anymore 30 or 60 minutes tickets. Why?

[@theon__]

10:09 Hm yes and no. 90% of the time its not but when the Ticket Controller shows up it seems like becoming instantly one to get more Money out of unknown Tourists so.

[@dontplayreplay8544]

I had the same problem when I visited Prague. I bought the ticket, I tried to validate it before to ride but there was noone to help me and then the ticket inspectors caught me on top and they were very rude. I am sure that when the inspectors are there, nooone helps you to validate your ticket. Rude people

[@afiiik1]

I just use the app when I go to Prague - much less stressful

[@WithmeVerissimusWhostoned]

Bro, now I want to buy 2 tickets for myself, validate one and not the other, then run into the inspectors and mess with them using the non-validated ticket, and when the police arrives I'll be like oops, here's the correct one.

[@josefstundl4408]

​@@WithmeVerissimusWhostoned Which basically means you will force the police to come there for no reason, just making yourself feel better, while they could be helping others who actually need it.

[@kikivondugong1306]

How hard is it to stick a piece of paper in a machine? 😂

[@JohannesNikitin91]

@@WithmeVerissimusWhostoned don't say that oops. show only the valid ticket :D

[@Xizario2]

The problem is not the requirement for validation. The problem is you can enter with non-valid ticket....

[@JackRoseTravels]

I'm so confused why tickets need to be validated. Surely the validation is the fact you bought the bloody thing?!

[@auguhelt6879]

Hey, I was in Prague about a year ago with my school, on the first day we had a tour where we took the underground and got stopped by ticket inspectors, we all had valid tickets (about 50 ish people) and one guy had an invalid one because the stamper broke (we learned later it usually does that) and so one of us was about to get fined until the guide saw what was happening and argued with them in our favour, took about 15 minutes but we got off and he stamped his ticket. Why could they not just use their brain before? We were all travelling together and 1 of 50 is invalid. Just let him stamp it there and let us go.

[@Mycr0bi]

I get why you haev to validate a city ticket, but I do not get it, why you have to validate a ticket that you can only buy there, and only for that ride. Due to the way the place designed I hardly believe someone would go there buy it and use it later.

[@t.j.carter6394]

Janek, I started watching your channel in 2017. I was planning my first trip out of the US, going with my best friend to backpack through a few European cities, and one of our stops was in Prague. I remember your videos even back then were the most helpful I came across for a first time visitor to any of the cities we were visiting, and I’ve been a subscriber ever since. I’ve seen several videos on this channel about various places in the US, but was SUPER surprised to see you’ve spent time in my hometown of Pensacola. If you’re ever in the area again it would be an honor to meet you and buy you a beer and show you some favorite places of locals here. If you’re ever interested let me know and I can send you my contact info. Thanks for continuing to make and share interesting, informative videos!

[@levelheaded2804]

I don't blame the inspectors. The system is wrong, why do you need to validate the ticket? If there is a good reason, why can't the inspectors validate the tickets at the end of the journey for tourists who did not validate it at the beginning instead of charging a fine?

[@michaelstevenson2517]

This is easy to fix and is implemented in most modern rail systems. Have barriers that block you entrance and the validation system opens them when you scan the ticket. That way you can only get in with a valid ticket, and ergo if you are in, you have properly validated. Simples.

[@Butmunch666]

But then they wouldn't need ticket inspectors and couldn't collect on all of the fines.

[@Kol2388]

You need to get some recognition from the Prague officials for all your work 👏, been to Prague for the first time couple of months ago and beforehand I've watched at least 30 of your videos it helped me a lot. It was like I lived in Prague, and your city is amazing will definitely come again so many museums are left unchecked.

[@stephanmaxx_]

i had a weekend ticket für public transport... this version is new for me intrastructure should also be understandable for tourists

[@holger_p]

But more explanation does not always enlighten people. Cause they don't want to read more than 10 seconds, then they get frustrated.

[@IbrahimLucas]

Ah Prague, the city where even the system tries to scam you 😂

[@ellienyan]

i'd probably just walk up the hill if i got into that situation. what kinda confusing stuff is that. my autism would never be able to handle that

[@krzysztofkosak4720]

I've been twice in Prague and luckilly did not used that attraction as I could have been scammed as well. After what I've heard here I will think twice before going there third time. Apparently in Prague they don't want to earn my money, they want to steal them.

[@muhammedarshadt2658]

Please mention that if you buy a ticket in the app you have to wait 2 minutes Even if you activate the ticket inspector comes before 2 minutes you have to pay fine

[@mieszkoherburt354]

Having control on the top instead of assistance on the bottom is confirming obvious and deliberate scam. They perfectly know that the system is set that way that people will make mistake, and they take advantage of it.

[@lucianodsb]

he showed people helping in the bottom plus there's plenty of signs

[@jurajkovac8507]

It's not deliberate, but it's supremely confusing. It used to be that any Prague transit ticket was valid here, but since a few years ago, only the 24h+ tickets and transit passes are accepted on the cable car. For a one-time ride, you need a CZK 60 ticket bought onsite. If that's the case, there should no longer be a need to validate, all the cable car tickets should be immediately usable. This would eliminate a lot of the confusion.

[@feluto7172]

@@jurajkovac8507no, it is deliberate. If they wanted people to stop with invalidated tickets they would be checked before the ride up. With this system they are literally farming ignorant tourists

[@mieszkoherburt354]

@@lucianodsb He also said that when there is control on the top, there is never any assistance on the bottom and that if the ticket is not used in 5 minutes it becomes invalid. I would love to find out haw much money is collected at that location from fines.

[@mieszkoherburt354]

@@jurajkovac8507 They are perfectly aware of the confusion, and they are taking advantage of that. Would like to find haw much money they collect in fines.

[@voxvire2350]

I am police for comment section!

[@JoshuaNicoll]

If you're being fined for not having a ticket because it wasn't validated (used for that trip) and you're being fined for not having a ticket (because you purchased a token to use for the trip but did not use it) and are then being denied the unused token back, they're effectively stealing that token, which would be a crime no matter how you look at it, that token is still valid to be validated. This system is asinine at best, and malicious at worse.

[@Desdress]

11:00 not true. ticket inspectors are some of worst and most vile people u gonna meet in prague as a tourist. the whole system where the inspector gets payed by how many fines he makes is leading to this behaviour and u gonna meet much worse then these guys from the video..

[@bigman5125]

Public transport as a tourist can be incredibly confusing in general. Often signage even in my own country (UK) can be confusing and misleading, especially when travelling in and around/out of London. (e.g. Elizabeth line to Reading with contactless card, many people don't realise they need to tap out and buy ticket for further travel west.)

[@dieseldragon6756]

I'm also from the UK, but this sort of thing is why I always change at Paddington and use GWR between there and Reading. This isn't just because it's considerably faster (And I have to confess I like Class 80x _Shinkansen_ a lot 😇) but it's also to avoid running into potential issues for the fact I haven't a clue where the Oyster boundary is on the WoE line! 😲

[@spunkyb5249]

I didn't know this funicular existed when I went to Prague. Now I'm definitely not going the next time I'm there!

[@Luckenw]

why not, it's nice and it only costs like 2€, you just need to validate it correctly

[@spunkyb5249]

@@Luckenw too much drama! 😀

[@lukasdolezal8245]

it is there for almost 100 years. unless you were there in 1930 it was there last time

[@Oznerock]

He said he didn't know, not that it didn't exist.@@lukasdolezal8245

[@zygimantasgasiunas2791]

Can someone also push this question to Prague tourism management?

[@seanbm39]

Its weird to think about europe as this far away place, but at 0:33 , I literally rode my bike through that area

[@invisi1407]

Why is the ticket validation even necessary? Buy a ticket, ride the funicular. If you need to purchase a ticket that is valid for several days, then simply buy one valid for the dates you need it. Validation is dumb; especially when the validation machine can't tell a validated and non-validated ticket apart and will hapily re-validate, and invalidate, an already validated ticket.

[@henrikgombert2708]

I was in Prague last week. You helped me a lot with your videos. I looked them in planning this trip. For example the video "how to buy a ticket for the public transport" you mentioned. Because of this I was buying a 3-day-ticket at the central station when I arrived in Prague and validated the ticket when I was in the first Tram to my hotel. Thank you for your very usefull videos.

[@stprk]

Hi, Once I validate my 3 day ticket before getting on the bus, do I need to validate again later in the day or next day for the metro or tram or bus? Also, do the tourists 65 and older age have free transportation in Prague. Thank you.

[@henrikgombert2708]

@@stprk You don´t have do validate the ticket again. Janek said this in this video.

[@sweet_amir]

1:54 Even the machines in Prague are rude and hate their job.

[@RHauto]

This would honestly make me never want to visit Prague. Ticket validated or not, those inspectors are in the wrong and are scamming tourists. They let the whole country down, shame on them!

[@phube008]

Not sure I want to visit Prague. This kind of experience will ruin everything. Gates should be locked if the ticket is not validated.

[@dvillebenny1445]

Why do they need ticket for any of this? Pay your money or card go thru turnstile, walk up stairs, and board train, just like Disney World!

[@rudayenndza]

poor Polish tourists... its sad that they were made to pay fine :/

[@timothyphillips679]

Despite their own public transport system operating in exactly the same way with validation on vehicles being required unless its a day ticket already active.

[@rudayenndza]

@@timothyphillips679 depends of the city

[@monder1060]

It should become a standard to switch to those tap-in/tap-out systems like you see in London or even Brno. It automatically creates the ticket and bills you at the end of the day, BUT if you tap in and out so much, you cross daily ticket value, it caps out at the daily price. Absolutely problem free and easy system for tourists.

[@dmonkeyy00]

But no easy fines :( how are the ticket inspectors gonna meet their fine commissions?

[@Larryberry961]

This was really our only bad experience in Prague. We couldn’t get the machine to accept any of our credit cards and we noticed everyone else having the same problem. The staff had no interest in assisting us and even sent us on a wild goose chase to get help from two other employees on their smoke break who seemed surprised to be asked. We finished up walking to the top and the exercise did us the world of good! But it really shouldn’t have been that difficult.

[@intrudery]

In poland rhey have super weird validation system as well. They have timed tickets and the locals wait for the train to start moving, to validate. Sometimes train Will sit un station for a long tume and if you validate early, you can get un trouble. This validation system is super weird and ancient 😂

[@bisarothub1644]

I think ticket inspector has a commission, percentage or bonus for every ticket violations.

[@wellaur]

I live in a big city, there are no tourists here. And I have never had to validate tickets in my life. There are either turnstiles or inspectors who check each ticket upon entry. To me this situation sounds like a 100% tourist trap.

[@yaush_]

Similar thing happens with trains to Versailles where people always buy the wrong ticket and then get fined so there are warnings all over some ticket machines telling tourists what to do

[@Swordfish728]

If people always or just frequently buy the wrong ticket, the ticketing system is poorly designed and needs to be overhauled. Tickets are not rocket science, if there's such an issue, they're doing them wrong.

[@matheusjahnke8643]

@@Swordfish728 Yes! Did you read your bicycle's manual to use it? Did you read your smartphone's manual to use it? Did you read your computer's manual to use it? Did you read your softwares'[like your OS' and your browser's] manual to use it? These things should be much more complex than buying a ticket. Yet for buying a ticket you have to read the manual else you have people getting it wrong.

[@timothyphillips7576]

I can see both sides here. I am a Brit and have been visiting Prague since the 1980's. Before going first time I read the rough guide which stated clearly, validate single tickets once only or they cease to be valid. You must validate before you travel or as soon as you board the tram/bus. It isn't the responsibility of Prague transport to supply bilingual ticket inspectors but I do think they are a little to officious on occasion. I have never had a problem with them because I understand the rules before I go. Why would you travel to a foreign city when you can't speak the language without doing some basic research first? Everything is on the internet these days, you don't have to walk to the library like I did the first time. Personally I am ashamed of how many of my fellow countrymen assume they can do as they please abroad and then get the hump when they discover they can't.

[@afiiik1]

I agree. The first time I went to London, I made sure I understood how to use the public transport, downloaded a map and saved all the locations I wanted to visit. It made the trip so much easier. But I'm still thankful for the Look right! signs, they are a literal life-saver for a tourist 😅

[@Pidalin]

Well said, it's not a rocket science to buy a time ticket and validate it. I really don't understand why so many people are not able to understand it. And as a Czech, I know a lot of people who are trying to exploit no gate system, they don't validate on purpose and then argue with inspector that they forget just today, but inspectors know they are lying and they just can't be that tolerant towards everyone who doesn't have valid ticket. Fine in Prague is still pretty cheap, when you don't do any research before you use a public transportation, you will pay a fine. I can understand why people are confused in regional system or trains, there is like milion zone systems, each region has different ticket system....I understand that people don't understand it, but seriously, in Prague? Everything is clear there, you buy a time ticket and you validate it. When you can buy more tickets on stock, it's logical that you have to validate them when it's a time ticket.

[@kikivondugong1306]

This! Exactly! Just don't be ignorant and make yourself familiar with the rules🤷🏼‍♀️

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@afiiik1 We do sometimes get it wrong, though! 😉 I remember the last time I broke a train journey at Cardiff Central and left the station to buy refreshments. On the road outside was that same writing which in English said _„Look right“_ ... ...But unfortunately (And quite dangerously) the Welsh beneath it said „Look *Left!* “ 😲

[@scepticalchymist]

@@Pidalin Prague has one of the finest (and cheapest) public transport systems in Europe. You can move around Prague 24 hours with a decent time schedule. The year ticket for the whole city is like about 150 Euro if you live there. Where do you get that? Yes, the rules are complicated sometimes, and for a tourist or new inhabitant it is not always easy, but then it is also not rocket science.

[@mostafakhazaei1164]

Loved this new style of voice-over narrations and fun graphics added in editing. Both informative and hilarious, esp. THIS MACHINE NOT THIS MACHIN graphic 😄

[@TVPro9061]

I have two opinions about this: 1. Do you don't have such validating System in your country? We have this in Germany all the time for public transports, so I always check if there is something like this to do. 2. Couldn't you just install a barrier that just opens when you validate your ticket? Doesn't the Prague metro already have that? btw. that doesn't mean that I'm on the inspectors side...

[@taoliu3949]

Ticket validation is essentially non-existent in places such as America. I only know of one transit system that requires it. That said, neither Berlin nor Viennas transit system has a barrier system for validating tickets.

[@martinolach7191]

dont use this funicular its a trap for unknoving tourist and they waiting for it when you make it wrong not validate your ticket .Revisor ticket controler recieve money how much fishes they catch

[@SukeerthM_1]

Wow guys what a timing to release this video. I was in Prague on the 28th October, i had come across your channel and was prepared to tackle intricacies of Prague local transport due to your videos. I had arrived on 27th evening and immediately bought a day pass and got it validated on the tram. Woke up early on 28th and searched for where all the 24 hr ticket is valid and got to know about the funicular and reached the place at 7:55 am, I was in luck as on 28th October it was reopening almost 2 weeks later after repairs. I was first in line for the 8 am train and boy was it an experience. Almost empty train and the views from the top are too good. Though there weren't any ticket checkers that day so I was alright but prepared with my 24 hr ticket.

[@dgibelli]

don't forget to mention the rose garden at the top 😆

[@pedrostormrage]

Here's my question: why make validation be a separate step if people (at least the tourists, I guess) are just gonna use the ticket immediately after they buy it? All you need is to make the machine print timestamps saying when the ticket was made, and how long you can use it for (or even better, just print the expiration date instead), which I suppose is basically incorporating the validation part into the ticket making. For people who don't wanna use a ticket immediately, maybe there could be a different machine/option that prints unvalidated tickets, but don't make that be the default system (since that generates all the confusion we're seeing here).

[@AntrozLPs]

Because sometimes you don't validate it immediately. Sometimes you buy tickets ahead of time when you're in some remote place where there aren't ticket machines or when you don't have a phone for example. So you buy several in advance and then validate them.

[@mickys8705]

The default system used to be always non-validated. Only the new card-only ticket machines print time on the ticket (since late 2010s).

[@xcoder1122]

We have a similar issue with public transportation in Germany. When you buy a ticket on the bus/train, it is immediately valid, because it is timestamped and the current location is printed on it, both important as tickets are time limited or range limited (or both). If you buy the ticket at a station instead, it first has to be stamped, so a time and location is printed on it when you start using it. But once stamped, it is valid and there is no need to stamp it again if you reuse it (e.g. a day, 3-day or weekly ticket). This can lead to confusion, even among locals and especially among tourists. Yet I have never seen that inspectors would reject you ticket because you accidentally stamped it twice, as long as they can read both prints, in which case the first one counts and the second one is ignored. My recommendation to tourists is to always buy a day or 3-day ticket (with more than 2 rides a day that usually be cheaper) and as a rule of the thumb: if you buy it and the machine displays a start date or allows you to enter a start day of your choice, it is valid from that date and won't require stamping, if not, you need to stamp it once to have the starting date printed on the ticket.

[@sarowie]

the funnniest dialog I heard in a Bus operated by Deutsche Bahn: A guy bought an App ticket while waiting for the bus. The bus came and the bus driver argued that the ticket was purchased after the bus left the bus stop. But the bus was still in the bus stop. Yes, but tickets have to purchased by scheduled time, not actual time. Yeah, but how to resolve that issue? Buy a ticket! And what time would be on that ticket? The current time off course! Tickets are sold in actual time, not scheduled time. So after the bus has left? No! off course not, the bus is still on the stop!

[@ミヤネジマ]

But ticket rules in Germany depend on the region you are in. In certain regions you will find single tickets immediately valid bought from a vending machine while in other regions those need to be validated. For example : The DB vending machine in Aachen sells you single tickets for immediate use, while in Berlin you need to stamp them (at least last time i was there).

[@TheEtherea]

I guess it shouldn't change, since it's clearly a great way to triple the income of the whole thing. The whole discussion recorded clearly indicates the malice intent.

[@krzysztofm8279]

This is very "common practice" in post soviet block countries. Try to get a train from Warsaw airport to central station as a foreigner. I'm polish, and I'm always astonish by complexity of buying a simple ticket for a sole railway line. I was witness several times of a situation where an inspector was giving 100euro fine to a person that bought 0,1euro cheaper ticket. Your theory on correlation between presence of inspector and absence of support personel may be right.