66-year-olds Bill and Mary Lou Keysworth believe they look their age. Despite this, Muni decided not to judge a book by its cover when a fare inspector boarded their 49-Van Ness bus this Tuesday. The SFians were kicked off the bus and were detained for 20 minutes all because Mary Lou couldn’t produce proper ID proving that she’s over 65.
As the Ex reports, the Keyworths paid their fare using their Clipper cards. However, when Mary Lou couldn’t prove she was old enough for the senior discounted fare she’d paid, “the transit fare inspector snatched Mary Lou Keyworth’s Clipper card and said she was planning to call the cops.”
Seniors (and others!) can be wary of Muni’s Clipper cards, which as you know, replaced paper Fast Passes. After this experience, the Keysworths say they are reconsidering using the card and Muni in general.
“We really didn’t think we’d be accused of some elaborate senior discount scam,” Bill told the Ex.
SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose told the Ex the inspector had every right to give the couple the boot, as seniors are told when they purchase a Clipper card that proper ID is required to ride.
While “Valid ID” is noted as a requirement for Senior Pass holding passengers on the SFMTA’s “Fare Info” page, it’s worth nothing that nowhere on the SFMTA’s “Senior Clipper information page” is that requirement to tote ID mentioned.
A web-savvy senior who checks the SFMTA Clipper page is told only that one needs “valid proof of age” to buy a Clipper card, not that one needs to have it on hand any time the Clipper card is used.
So, what do you think?
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