I've never quite figured out what was the best way to save money by using my oyster card. Is it better to buy monthly? Yearly? To use cash or a travel card, such as a weekly pass? Any tips?

Despite being a general grump about technology, my Oyster card fills me with awe and wonder. I have a monthly bus pass on it, as I use the buses most of the time, and then keep around £20 pre-pay in case I need to use the tube. I can automatically keep the pre-pay topped up to any amount as well which saves me forgetting and running out. If anyone knows of any other useful tips for using one, please let me know. (Only one question - why on earth is it called an `Oyster' card? - as I have been asked by numerous American friends)

According to Wikipedia: "Oyster was conceived and subsequently promoted because of the metaphorical implications of security and value in the component meanings of the hard bivalve shell and the concealed pearl. Its associations with London through Thames estuary oyster beds and the popular idiom 'the world is your oyster' were also significant factors in its selection as was the uniqueness of the word Oyster." Details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_card

Whether it is better to buy a card per week or per month or annually depends on how often you need it and what you use it for! The annual one used to (I don't know if it still does) give you 1/3 off greater london train fares at weekends. But I rarely needed this. However with an travelcard/oyster card you can hop on a bus just for one or two stop. It does encourage you to explore London.

All though a great reason wikipedia has as to why the oystercard was named as such, in actual fact it is after the octopus card in Hong Kong!

 

In answer to the best way to use it...........

1. Look at how you travel, i.e only the Tube, or a mixture of Tube, Bus and National Rail, or Bus only.

2. How many journeys do you make each day, to a week, to a month. 3

. If you use the Bus for example and the odd occasional tube journey, then a bus pass loaded to your oyster and a minimum of £10 pay as you go will cover both ticket mediums.

4. If you use all of the different modes of transport every day, then it makes sense to use a travel card loaded to your oyster.

5. If you only use the Bus for example, then a bus pass loaded to your oyster is all you need.

6. Whatever ticket medium id right for you, ALWAYS get it fully registered either at the tube station or the newsagent, this means filling in a form, just having an online account is not fully registering your card. By doing this you will then always insure your ticket/pay as you go to be replaced in the event of loss or theft.

7. Make a note of your oyster card number-12 digits at the back, keep it safe at home, remember your security answer, and then if anything arrises you have all the information that the helpdesk will ask you for.

8. When validating your oyster card on the reader, keep a check on the information thatteh gates/readers say, it will tell you when your travelcard is due to expire as well as how much pay as you go you have left.

Pay as you go = exactly as it states, you pay for each journey as you make them and get charged the correct fare as long as you touch in and touch out.........

Travel card = If you purchase a travelcard for a month for example for zones 1-2, for the next month you have purchased unlimited journeys at anytime of the day across ALL modes of transport, not including the river boat service.

Barclay card are now offering a combined creditcard, pre paid facility, and oyster card all in one.....BarcalycardPulse

Hope that helps guys..n..gals....