How Our City Created An Official Tourist Trap

[@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.

[@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.

[@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]

.. Do you know Jesus Christ can set you free from sins and save you from hell today Jesus Christ is the only hope in this world no other gods will lead you to heaven There is no security or hope with out Jesus Christ in this world come and repent of all sins today Today is the day of salvation come to the loving savior Today repent and do not go to hell Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today Romans 6.23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@SerPodrick]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😃

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@raquelmirandacubero3207]

I visited the funicular (on a cold Monday, of course) and learned that it's much better to take tram 22 to Pohořelec. Enjoy a beer and a sausage at Pivovar Strahov, then head to Petřín Tower this way after enjoying one of the best views of Prague. It's easier and faster, and then you can slowly walk down in whatever direction you prefer.

[@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.

[@mangotail6808]

I have my own experience with Czech public transport from many years ago. I bought a ticket for a train, chose a wagon and a seat. Only sign that it was a exclusive area was a glass door sepparating sepparating half of the wagon into two. Instead of telling me i happened to be in 1st class and i should move, they demanded me to pay up. Same thing happened to a couple who enter the came wagon i did later in the journey. Someone came up to them and said something in czech, the couple moved right away.

[@JukoweskaSkons]

Mega episode!! Very useful information. You're doing a great job😊

[@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

[@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.

[@intrudery]

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

[@unemilifleur]

A friend of mine in Italy took a train between villages. There are national trains and local trains between those villages. She bought a ticket for the train between the villages, but a national train was going from and to the same villages and which was which was poorly indicated. She got on the wrong train and there was a ticket inspector just sitting there the whole time, watching them, not talking to them. As soon as the doors closed he went straight to them (the obvious tourists) and gave them a fine. Like a 300€ fine.

[@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!

[@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.

[@RogerThat787]

Janek needs to be head of tourism. For obvious reason (corrupt system) they would never let him and his honesty have this job. He would revolutionize and rout pit all the scams perpetrated by the government. We can only hope! Thanks for the great channel

[@LJKerryBooks]

as a foreigner who studied in Prague for a summer school, I was really glad that the school provided a local guide for the first couple of days who helped my class navigate the ticket system in Prague so we could "act like a local." Definitely made the experience, as a foreigner, much easier. It really confused my family when we visited Prague about the tickets and I'm glad that I had the local experience so we didn't run into validation issues

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@ashokrayal5309]

Oh wow, we had a similar experience with the bus! We had just landed in Prague for the first time and bought our bus tickets 5-10 minutes after landing. In our rush to catch the bus, we forgot to validate the tickets (didn't even know we had to). When the inspector came around, we explained that we had just arrived and bought the tickets minutes ago, but he insisted we'd face the police and pay more if we didn't settle the fine right there. It was a lot for us, especially being in a new country for the first time. Not wanting to waste our short 2-day trip with authorities, we paid the fine and moved on, even cutting out some attractions like the tower and cable car. Despite the rocky start, I ended up loving Prague! It's now one of my favorite destinations, and I’m already planning a return trip next year. Love Prague ❤❤❤

[@oliebol9126]

A couple months ago we went to Prague with school. The teachers bought tickets for the people that didn't want to walk up. They made a mistake when showing the tickets and everyone had to pay a 1000 crown fine and spent a few hours at the police station. I didn't have to cause I walked up but it still sounded pretty crazy. In total it was about 40 people who had to pay a fine.

[@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.

[@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 😆

[@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.

[@BraveHornet]

I think it's lovely how he taught the words at the end!

[@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).

[@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 😂

[@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.

[@r4nd0mc0nt3nt]

Got stopped twice in Prague by these inspectors. First time was inside the metro and they were checking each and every person's ticket. Second time was clearly a try out to get tourists. I was heading to the airport by myself when I crossed a group of three inspector who were having a chat. When they saw me, one of them went straight to me asking for my ticket. Full crowd but I was the only one with a traveling bag and the only one they asked for a ticket. 100% no doubt they were focusing on getting tourists. Good thing I was taught how to use the public transportation by a local to avoid getting caught in these tricky situations. Too bad most tourists are not that lucky. Besides that, I loved Prague. Going to this park you showed was an amazing experience. I got there from the Prague Castle nearby it so I didn't use this transportation you showed (nor would, i prefer walking). From the castle I went to a monastery midway and I then I got to this park through the woods in there and then the tower, which is sooo much worth the visit. Such a lovely walk. So far, Prague has been the city I went that I enjoyed the most walking around. So much to see...

[@AQDuck]

Every tourist-heavy city needs people like you

[@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

[@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 😄

[@andreasmartin9296]

In Karlsruhe, Germany, we have exactly the same situation, only here the entire catchment area of the Karlsruhe Transport Authority is affected! Sometimes you catch a machine that issues a ticket for stamping, other machines only issue tickets for immediate travel. And there are stations where you can't find a ticket machine at all, and you can't buy tickets on the trains themselves.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@jhvorlicky]

I am a dual national, British and Czech. I first arrived in Prague in 1991. It was exactly the same then.

[@michaelz.7140]

default option should be "for boarding now" where it is actually validated. only for some special purposes there should be an option to buy unvalidated tickets (e.g for later when you know there will be a crowd at the ticket machine) . I made a not so nice experience with the ticket inspectors in prague. they treated me like i was trying to scam them.

[@paulinemably9572]

I am British but live in Bratislava where I use pubic transport a lot and visit Prague often but I’ve been caught out and it was ridiculous. I used the PID app to buy tickets for my whole family and the tram came along and we hopped in but our ticket took 2 minutes to become validated which we hadn’t realised - it’s 30 seconds on the Slovak version which is much more reasonable. There was a ticket inspector on the tram and he fined us for having invalidated tickets even though they became validated while we argued! He knew that it was morally outrageous though a we’d paid and weren’t trying to ride for free - and he only fined me rather than all 4 of our group as he was legally entitled to and he gave us a smaller fine. It sucked though as we absolutely were not trying to cheat and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. 2 minutes is a ridiculous amount of time to need to wait. In BA they’ve now altered the app and you can choose when you want the validation to start from so you can maximise the time you use the ticket for according to when your first bus will arrive but you can also opt for using it instantly which is the default now.

[@amunak_]

You can also select a specific time with the PID app, but the 2min delay is still enforced. It exists so that people can't hop onto public transport and when they see an inspector to just buy the ticket in-place; it's much easier to stall for just 30 seconds (and it takes them a while to check the people before you). So I kinda understand that but it still sucks - I also often don't know when I will need the ticket so it can be a hassle especially when your trip is just at the limit of the ticket's validity :D Though now that you know this you could just stall for 2 minutes next time, it's not really hard.

[@stprk]

Hello, 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.

[@erikhubel1064]

​@@amunak_Thats why inspectors shut down validating machines when they get in. (in Brno)

[@pakan357]

@@stprk Let's say you use 50 vehicles of public transport in 3 days. Would you be able to read anything on the stamp after 50 validations? Would you be able to read the stamp even after the second time you validate it? Think about it. The ticket is valid for 72 hours after you first validate it. DO NOT NEVER EVER EVER STAMP THE TICKET TWICE!!! He said it in the video too.

[@zworg2]

thank you. i finally had the opportunity to visit your beautiful city. i have watched many of your videos as they are intersting and well presented. thanks to your videos, we avoided the meat sellers in the square, and a number of the other tourist traps. but this one specifically was useful, as soon as we go to the entrance i said to my party, we must check carefully...... we all read the signs, and on realising that the 72hr ticket we had already bought was valid,, knew we didnt need to do anything. there was an inspector at the bottom, who appeared to be (semi-reluctantly) assisting passengers when tehre were questions or issues. but this video also assisted when we bought hte 72hr tickets in teh first place...... i realised we needed to validate, and so we all did! I hope to go back sometime!

[@carick235]

I was with my family last year and i just bought 24h ticket, validated, and used it for funicular. Of course ticket inspectors were at the top after the ride, but everyone in my group had valid tickets. Many in that line had no idea that you could use regular transit ticket for that ride or anything about validation.

[@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.

[@IbrahimLucas]

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

[@David-gr1ku]

Two weeks ago, I was standing outside of a bar in Prague with my friend and about 30 other people. Some were having a drink in their hands and we were all chatting. The security guards and the bar owners were all fine with it. Suddenly, the municipal police showed up with a van and quite a number of officers and demanded all of our identity cards from us. Only after receiving them all, they exclaimed that we were all illegally drinking on the street and the bar owners warned us while we knowingly did it anyway. We were all fined without ability to defend ourselves; no matter whether you were just a bystander, didn't have a drink or simply walked past. It seemed very set-up since we were all foreigners and they clearly knew, which is why we immediately went home and left the city the next day. It was really a sad way of ending the trip.

[@SvenSkottke]

Similar situation in Germany - even when you get used to it in one city, each city has its own system - so you can always get caught out. A big difference is that our inspectors are a bit more understanding, when a genuine mistake has been made - it's not rare that they don't fine people in those situations or just make them buy the right ticket from their portable machines and then everyone carries on with their day. But if the "accused" starts arguing and being unreasonable, then they can expect fines and getting booted off the train, at the next stop.

[@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.

[@zygimantasgasiunas2791]

Can someone also push this question to Prague tourism management?

[@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.

[@MegaLokopo]

Have the person who checks for valid tickets also be the person who validates them, and have them block the entrance so you can't get in without a validated ticket.

[@TomSleeUK]

Here in England, if you buy a paper ticket at a train station, some stations give you two tickets that look almost identical except one is a receipt. The receipt is not a valid form of ticket. So if you lose the ticket, they won't accept the receipt even though it is proof. Also if you show the payment on your banking app they won't care. Have the ticket or pay the fine. The good thing about lots of London and surrounding home counties is you can use your bank card on the barriers. So if you lose a ticket. Rather than pay a fine. You can tap out and they will just charge a standard fair. When I see people at the barrier on the way to work who don't have a ticket I tell them just to tap their bank card! Not a scam or anything but hopefully this is helpful for tourists in London.

[@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).

[@dorivalcamargojr2953]

Yes, it's true that there is (almost) always someone to help the tourists to buy/validate the tickets. But they are not always as friendly as you said. And most of them only speak Czech ( or pretend so), therefore you can't ask any question and also can't understand what they say, if you are a foreigner.

exactly, I'm yet to see inspector willing to speak english, they have it as job requirement, but exactly 0 of them speak it

[@dorivalcamargojr2953]

@MrDjTilo Actually, at least for me, the instructions are clear, and it's also in English. And it works exactly the same as any other public transport in Prague. I think that's the point tourists don't get. Just the help from the workers is not that good.

[@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?

[@DevilSpider_]

As a Prague resident, the funicular also accepts 24-hour or longer tickets. So if you buy - in my case - a monthly pass (usually via Lítačka), you should be able to ride the funicular without an extra ticket. Also from my experience, the funicular going downwards is less crowded than the one going upwards.

[@ProductionBandit]

i just walked it, the line was also massively long for it we landed in prague at 8am and ended up walking 20km around the city on our first day great place

[@luistin]

Whoever thought it's a good idea to separate the process of purchasing and validating tickets caused this whole problem to begin with. In southern Finland, you buy the ticket in a mobile app and it generates a session for you, which allows you to use the ticket everywhere in a zone during a time period. When you board the bus, you show the ticket from the app to the bus driver when entering(each ticket has a qr code and a color pair determined algorithmically, which the driver can validate with a quick glance). When you board the metro, train or tram, you don't need to show it at all, but if someone doesn't have a ticket during a random inspection run, which happens like once every 30 rides or so, they get fined. All you need to think about is: Buy ticket, when asked to show ticket, show ticket and move on. It should not be any more complex, than that. Want to buy ticket in advance? You can do that and it will automatically validate on the time you chose. The additional benefit is, that even if you run out of battery or you cant for whatever reason show that you have a valid ticket during that time, you can send them verification later and they will not make you pay the 80 euro fee. The treatment the people in this video received would be unthinkable here.

[@dieseldragon6756]

The same system (Used to be) used in Germany as well, and I _think_ the reasoning behind it might've been because only issuing tickets for immediate use causes other problems with cash handling and certain fare types, particularly multiple-journey tickets. The Dortmunder VB used to offer 2, 4 and 8 journey tickets (The latter simply being 2x the former) with quite some saving over the cost of buying each trip individually, and these were issued on ticket stock which had two or four places for validation stamps (Each end of the ticket, on both sides for a 4x). 🎫 Another issue with _immediate use only_ tickets is that where they're used, they cause massive queues at ticket machines during busy periods because people have to buy before boarding. Being able to buy a bunch of tickets during a spare moment (e.g. When alighting the S-Bahn on the way home from work) means at busy times you can walk straight onto the platform, and the only delay for the people behind while validating your ticket is about half a second versus the 2-5 minutes spent selecting a fare and digging for change. 🪙 Some areas are not safe to put cash-accepting machines in, so the validation system means that these stations can be fitted with the validators alone, regular passengers can buy tickets from other stations or newsagents (etc), and a rules exception can be put in place to accommodate visitors who won't know how the system works (e.g: Obtain a boarding pass from driver/guard, pay at destination). 😇 All in all both approaches - _Immediate use_ and _Buy then Validate_ - Have their individual strengths and weaknesses, but the advent of mobile ticketing and electronic payments does mean that validation-based systems can easily be replaced with more modern approaches...So long as alternative measures are still put in place for folks like me who can't afford a smartphone! 🙃

[@luistin]

​@@dieseldragon6756 With NFC technology being relevant since the late 2000's, there's no problem with not having a smartphone(though its virtually impossible to not have a smartphone in Finland). You can have a card, that you flash onto the validator and that will automatically deduct from the card's balance. There's validators inside each bus, before each metro and train. There are ZERO problems with queues in this system, actually even less of a problem, than in the case of having to buy a physical ticket, then activating that ticket on a validator, because you're literally just removing the point of purchase from the station. Anyways as I said, your point about instant validation with tickets being potentially bad because you can't buy in advance is simply not correct. As said previously, you can buy instantly validating tickets in advance. The only downside is that you can't hoard these tickets, unless you roughly know each time you're going to depart. Although the idea, that hoarding tickets would be a good idea indicates a completely backwards system to begin with.

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@luistin It's good that they provide smartcards (An excellent work-around for the phoneless, that!) but one issue I have with smartcards is that there's no definite (Printed) proof of payment for the journey being made - You have to trust that the system is working as intended, and does so _throughout the course of the contract for travel._ My local system is TfL Oyster🦪 (MiFare based, wholly ITSO incompatible) and that has - Let's just say - A rather _unique_ level of „reliability“ to it... 😉 The issue of hoarding tickets can be analogous to similar things e.g. postage stamps and parking vouchers. AFAIK in Germany an unused ticket remains valid in perpetuity until validated (I note the HVV still has validators in many stations, yet the HVV hasn't issued a ticket requiring validation stamps since before the year 2000) and outstanding unused (Valid) tickets can be a headache for operators, but at the same time it allows a passenger to avoid the impact of inflation by buying as early as they can, and the operator (Who can invest that money early on) potentially benefits too. 💰 If I dug out that half used 4-fahrkarte for the VRR and they still accept them, it would allow me to effectively make a journey around Köln or Düsseldorf tomorrow that was originally paid for in Marks...Not only avoiding inflation, but effectively converting those Marks into Euro at the same time! 😲💶😇

[@Midaspl]

To anyone in similar situation - pay with a card and file for a chargeback. Card provider might not do it at first, but if enough people come for it, they might lose access to card payments.

[@neiker234]

Therapist: A video can't make you angry. The video:

[@deutpol]

Berlin. Many S-Bahn stations. Ticket machines are in the middle of the platform. Validation boxes are only on both ends of the platform. Buying the ticket from the machine you do not even see the validation box. To make the ticket valid you have to walk to one of the ends of the platform and stamp the ticket to make it valid. This is called "entwerten" in German. And does mean... "making invalid / worthless",))

[@denidale4701]

First time I was in Prague a friend and I bought a public transport ticket for multiple days and we validated it. Then I realized that there actually was a line where it needs to be validated. So of 4 possible ways to insert the ticket into the validator only one would be correct. We inserted ours upside down. Usually in other cities nobody really cares, as long as there is only one validation, they don't really care where on the ticket it is. But I felt uneasy, especially as the ticket price was so low and the fine extremely high in comparison ( I think it was about 10x the price for a multiday ticket). We bought a new ticket and validated it the correct way. Only minutes later our tickets got checked and I asked the controller about our other ticket. He said he would have fined us with that ticket. Also if we had validated it again in the correct spot, he would have fined us, even if both validations would only be a minute apart from each other and clearly no manipulation attempt. I may misremember that part, but I remember that I also felt the ticket and the validators being quite unintuitive and misleading as to where the validation has to go. I have met tons of strict controllers in many countries when it came to unvalidated tickets or expired tickets, wrong discounts etc. But I have never met any place else where they were so adamant on the tiny details. It really seemed like they were out to catch people doing minor mistakes. In other places I even experienced people validating their ticket multiple times despite it only needing one and the controllers would just check the oldest validation. Even apologizing if some validations overlapped and they couldn't determine anymore if the oldest validation is still valid or not. As long as it was clear that the ticket should be valid for the transit, they didn't care for mistakes.

[@sweet_amir]

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

[@makere]

The ticket stuff isn't that complex once you understand it. We also had annoying encounter with a ticket inspector, as we were about to leave the bus in our stop. It was stressful digging our tickets from our pockets with hands full of luggage and fearing that the bus will leave with us missing the stop.

[@zhr3k]

Well, you have no choice but to keep your ticket in your pocket or wallet in case of an inspection. After all, it's printed on it.

[@WelsyCZ]

Just tell the guy you need to get off now and that you are not running away. Also, you should have your ticket on hand really.

[@makere]

@@zhr3k Yeah, my gripe is that the inspection didn't happen between stops, but literally as we were about to get off. We were stopping at the bus stop just before the stop at the airport, so I think the inspector thought we were trying to get off to avoid inspection.

[@danevileye]

The problem with your statemente is exactly the "once you understand it". Tourists have basically 1 shot at getting that right, since they won't come back multiple times on that ride, so it has to be perfectly clear at first glance. Tourists won't have the "once you understand" opportunity :/

[@makere]

@@danevileye You can't assume everything to work automatically. The machine says how long the ticket is valid when you buy it, also iirc the ticket reads that you must validate it before using it. Only thing hard is to understand what lines the ticket is valid at. I've only visited Prague once, and we had some minor mishaps like didn't realise that the 24h ticket would've saved some money and my friend stamping the ticket at the wrong end.

[@adamsmith2161]

I had coworkers visit Prague. They bought a 3-4 day ticket, but they didn't validate it. The ticket inspector made them pay almost 4000 ck. Damn crooks.

[@mrkv4k]

Why crooks? They didn't have a valid ticket. If you are an inspector, you have no way of knowing wheter the person is lying and is just riding with one not validated ticket (in case they get cought) or if that's a legitimate mistake. All the information is on the ticket, it's not that hard.

[@miniak2708]

Yeah, but 4000 Czech crowns are 175 US dollars.@@mrkv4k

[@Dan8254]

​@@mrkv4k Well, if the system is made in a way that there are so many honest people unintentionally making mistakes and then fined it is reasonable to call the operators crooks. If the ride supposedly accepts different kind of passes, tickets, then it is reasonable to expect that the operator of this ride provides proper system where all passes, tickets be scanned (or validated) correctly before you can take the ride and not penalise people for something the operator failed to do.

[@mrkv4k]

@@Dan8254 What do you mean "so many"? Is it 1%? 0.1%? Less than 0.01%? You don't even know...

[@Dan8254]

@@mrkv4k Watch the video and try to listen to what Janek said when he was commenting on people entering the gate. Do I even need to tell you the timestamp?

[@ben_1]

In Switzerland, basically all these funiculars, trams or other "part attraction - part transport" rides have the same system that eliminates most of these problems: a turnstyle, where if you're through, you're valitated. You can either scan your ticket (with a barcode, so multiple validations are impossible anyway) or if there is a cash registry the employee there can let you through after you paid. I very rarerly see a tourist that has a problem, mostly it's that they don't know how to use the scanner.

[@Higbardon]

When being ripped off with ticket machines, (happens a lot in England) I find superglue or expanding foam is my best friend.

[@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.

[@cancerianlove5783]

As long as the people are buying the tickets valid for only the ride to the top of the hill should not require validating .. as you said, if the validation is going to make already validated tickets invalid .. this is absolutely not right .. I think this needs to be sorted by the city and you should do something about it Janek

[@spacedog_80]

The ticket you buy for the cable car is the same as for ALL public transportation in Prague. If you don't validate it, you could use the same ticket for ever. That's why you need to validate it. Because the tickets you buy are valid only for a certain period of time after validation. 30min, 90min, 24h, 72h. It's not confusing at all. It's actually very clear. And this system is used in many European cities.

[@peterboil4064]

There's a cable car that's not a tourist trap in Prague. You can find it at the NH Prague City Hotel.

[@voxvire2350]

I am police for comment section!

[@Kropikovo]

Would be interesting what the city or the Prague Public Transport company says about this situation and what changes will they implement to prevent this from happening.

[@WittgensteinsNiece]

Yes!!! Follow-up please

[@elongated_muskrat_is_my_name]

If you want a funicular, go to Stuttgart instead. There's a nice walking route that uses both the funicular and the rack railway, both of which you can travel on with regular tickets like any other line. The funicular is mostly a tourist attraction but the rack railway is mostly used by local commuters and downhill cyclists.

[@KlockworXMusic]

Pro tip for tourist traps, or any sort of trap regardless of whether you are a tourist, if you absolutely get forced into paying (always try to avoid it though), use a credit card and afterward go to your online account and file a chargeback.

[@BukkitViper]

Honestly, a gate that only opens when you have the correct ticket and validates it would solve all the problems. As easy as that

[@joseph1150]

But they have a perverse incentive to not fix it. IMHO if you were allowed to board the train, you shouldn't be harassed further.

[@martijnp]

The German train system has something similar to this and I got fined for it. 120 euro fine after already spending 25 euro on a 48 hour ticket. Over there you don't need to stamp it immediately, but it's crazy seeing people defend such an archaic system. They also only sell pre-stamped ones in some locations (not the place I was at), at least force the option so people have to specifically click no. Edit: oh my god, looking further into the video they even pulled the "we will call the police and you will pay more money". They also told us paying by card is impossible and it's cash only (probably to try to steal from us, as that's simply not true)

[@mienzillaz]

We had whole day ticket luckily, we almost validated second time on that station, but first I asked the lady who worked there if we can just board. She confirmed, I wish it would be fleshed out somewhere.

[@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!

[@anthonysiu6010]

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

[@alexandermieske797]

Thanks as always for the video. The “solution” is actually relatively simple: the cable car tickets you buy are valid immediately, you no longer have to stamp them. The obvious question is: why isn't this the case? Because: this tickets cannot be used anywhere else, have to be used the same day and the personnel costs for the ticket inspectors at the gates are certainly higher than the fines. Or not? In this case the system would be intentional and yes, a tourist trap.

[@channon3]

No. Cable car is part of public trasportation in city, so you may use regular tickets for whole city (at least 1 day), but it is needed to be validated as it would be needed during entering to underground or bus. There are also special tickets for cable car , if you are only interested in cable car.

[@alexandermieske797]

@@channon3 Wright, that´s why i wrote "cable car tickets". I assume, most tourists by that one, when they are at the cable car station.

[@channon3]

@@alexandermieske797 If you speak specifially about cable car tickets, I dont see reason to call it trap only because of option, that you can buy tickets in advance. They dont have to be used at the same moment or day. You can buy them on morning (during walking around station on your way somewhere else) without queue and use them during afternoon (or at least second ticket for coming back at the same time as first ticket).... ticket machine is not same with validation machine, so these two have separated queues. Also, i cannot confirm, if MOST tourists prefer specifically cable car tickets. They may just use one day ticket, that is much better.

[@stevqtalent]

i remember that park from nearly 15 ago. and being confused about why anyone healthy would take that train. it's a really nice walk up, one of my top 3 places in prague.

[@JohnDlugosz]

I think "validating" is actually what we would call cancelling, as in how the postal workers cancel stamps once the letter is received. It shows that the ticket has been used. This would traditionally be done by a ticket taker using a hole punch. In public transit systems I'm familiar with, the machine unlocks the turn-style for each customer individually when presented with the ticket, which is debited, noted, or cancelled as appropriate for that kind of ticket.

[@CZpersi]

Ticket inspectors have terrible reputation among the travelling public. In some cities, they are motivated to issue as many fines as possible and they will find any kind of petty excuse to fine you. My city of Pilsen is one of the worst in this regard, with ticket inspectors looking and behaving like gang members. I have also experienced a very similar situation on a train in the UK.

[@Dantist87]

Interesting, actually I find the ticket inspectors in CR just angels comparing to their colleagues in any other countries I've seen them, incl. Austria or Germany. They are quite calm and unaggressive mostly.

[@dgibelli]

I have had my ticket checked in Brno, Ostrava and Prague without incident...they just look, see I follow the rules and move to the next person.

[@technologic_dev]

why does the ticket need to be validated? that is ridiculous. especially for a tourist place. If validation is required, why are people allowed to enter the train without validating? This is a clear trap

[@kralicidoupe385]

They cannot enter the train without a validated ticket

[@Forseti2]

You can buy the ticket in advance and use (validate) it later, but I agree, this is complicated and it should be possible to do it at once.

@@Forseti2 that would make sense if you would buy it on a different location, but these are tickets specifically for this cable car and sold there, not all around prague - trap

[@Forseti2]

@ aren't those for entire public transport? (trams, buses, ferry boat 😅,...) PS: asi mužem klidně i česky 😊

@@Forseti2 no they're not