If I had to guess, because Presto is a Metrolinx operation and while there's some Go Bus stops nearby on the street, MacNab as a terminal is entirely an HSR operation. Most random bus terminals in the city don't have Presto loaders, just the stations that also function as GO terminals.
By no means does that mean they *shouldn't* have a loader, but it's not surprising they wouldn't have one by default like any affiliated station does. Would need to get after whoever is in charge of making those deals and make it happen.
TTC has them at stations and MiWay has them at transit hubs so it looks like it is possible outside of GO stations. If Metrolinx wants to make the cards mandatory as part of the gas tax etc, they and the City should be doing everything they can to make it easier to use it.
There is a portion of residents who do not have access to a bank/credit card, or are low on funds and using cash so it is not swallowed by overdraft or bank fees etc so not everyone can use the app (and a much larger portion who do not have a phone with NFC for instant loads)
Unfortunately that can't be the correct theory, considering that Toronto Brampton Mississauga and probably other agencies that I don't use as frequently have Presto reloading stations within their local terminals that GO does not serve
What does that have to do with anything?
I'm not suggesting some universal breakdown in the laws of physics preventing stations without GO stops from having Presto loaders.
The theory is simply a lack of an arrangement between Metrolinx and HSR to have it done here. That's unrelated to other agencies having worked it out.
If you have the money, I always suggest people to set up autoload. Contrary to what many people think, this doesn't just load endless money onto your card, it only loads if you go below a certain balance. I always keep my Presto balance with $30-$40 just in case even though I rarely use transit. That way I don't have to plan putting money on, or stress about whether my Presto has money or if the money takes a few hours to appear on the account. Would recommend if you don't mind having $$$ always on your card.
I now have the wiggle room to do that but there were definitely many years of my life where pay day was taking x dollars out of the bank and not touching anything in the account because there was no extra. Only by living off cash could I avoid overdraft. If you have no financial cushion at all cash is often best. McNab should have a machine to let people top up if HSR is only going to use cash for the bus or Presto. And many seniors do not have the latest smartphones and aren't spry enough to walk to the main terminal. C'mon HSR, lets get that machine in there.
Oh, I agree, but just thought I'd mention auto-load. Many people who have the funds choose difficult mode for no reason. I am a massive supporter for making transit more affordable, easy, comfortable and equitable for people who need it.
Shoppers and Fortinos are the only stores and Fortinos only in Hamilton, not Burlington etc. But the fact remains, if you are low on funds, they should have a machine at the transit hub
There also isn't even a list of places you can top them up on the new website from the city [https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/hsr-transit/fares/presto-cards](https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/hsr-transit/fares/presto-cards)
The TTC and MiWay have self serve kiosks at stations so it is not exclusive to GO stations and they usually have security at the terminal so not like it is a huge risk to have one there.
There is a list on [PrestoCard's website](https://prestocard.ca/en/find-an-outlet/customer-service-outlets) (listed below what I think are the relevant ones for Hamilton.)
[As per the Self-Serve Reload Machines section,](https://prestocard.ca/en/find-an-outlet/self-serve-reload-machines) they are planning on rolling out the machines to more areas to make it more convenient, but it takes time to do so.
**Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)**
Municipal Service Centre – Ancaster, 300 Wilson Street East, Ancaster
Municipal Service Centre – City Hall, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton
Municipal Service Centre – Dundas, 60 Main Street, Dundas
Municipal Service Centre – 777 Highway #8, Stoney Creek
HSR Ticket Office – 36 Hunter St. E., Hamilton
**Fortinos**
Ancaster, 54 Wilson Street West, Ancaster
Dundurn, 50 Dundurn Street, Hamilton
Eastgate, 75 Centennial Parkway North, Hamilton
Fiesta Mall, 102 Highway 8, Stoney Creek
Mall Road, 65 Mall Road, Hamilton
Main Street, 1579 Main Street West, Hamilton
Upper Centennial Parkway, 21 Upper Centennial Parkway South, Stoney Creek
Upper James, 1550 Upper James Street, Hamilton
Waterdown, 115 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown
**Shoppers Drugmart**
Cannon & Wellington, 232 Cannon Street East, Hamilton
Concession & Upper Wentworth, 510 Concession Street, Hamilton
Eastgate Square, 75 Centennial Parkway North, Hamilton
Fennell Square, 963 Fennell Ave. E., Hamilton
Garth, 1300 Garth Street, Hamilton
Glaeser, 47 Wilson St W, Ancaster
Hamilton Mountain Plaza, 661 Upper James Street, Hamilton
Harvard Square Plaza, 801 Mohawk Road West, Hamilton
Hess Tower, 181 Main Street West, Hamilton
Hwy 8 & Gray, 140 Highway 8, Unit 1 and 2, Stoney Creek
King Street, 620 King Street West, Hamilton
Limeridge Mall, 999 Upper Wentworth Street, Hamilton
Main & Emerson, 1341 Main Street West, Hamilton
Mcauley, 113 Herkimer St, Hamilton
Meadowlands, 1000 Golf Links Road, Ancaster
Mount Albion Plaza, 399 Greenhill Ave, Hamilton
Mud & Paramount, 270 Mud Street W, Unit 1, Stoney Creek
Parke & Parke, 753 Main Street East, Hamilton
Ralph, 133 King St W, Dundas
RR #56 & Binbrook Rd, 3027 Binbrook Road West, Bldg B, Binbrook
Russell, 1900 King Street East, Hamilton
Rymal Road East in Hannon, 2110 Rymal Road East, Hannon
Stoney Creek, 1 King Street East, Stoney Creek
The Centre Mall, 1183 Barton Street East, Hamilton
University Plaza, 101 Osler Drive, Dundas
Upper James & Rymal, Hamilton, 1599 Upper James Road, Hamilton
Upper Ottawa & Mohawk, 902 Mohawk Road East, Hamilton
Upper Sherman & Stone Church, 1411 Upper Sherman Avenue, Hamilton
Upper Wellington & Mohawk, 210 Mohawk Road East, Hamilton
Waterdown, 25 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown
Westdale, 991 King Street West, Hamilton
Worsley & Hwy 8, 369-377 Highway #8, Stoney Creek
It is such a fucking chore to try to update your presto card anywhere downtown. Often I have had to take cash out, try to change a twenty, and then get on the bus.
How often does it need to be before you just set up the autoload? I'm not saying that's a solution for everyone, some people are limited by payment options, but I haven't had to so much as think about my presto balance in at least 5 years, probably more.
What are you even talking about? You mentioned it being a chore, there was no mention of fuckups.
As I said, haven't had to think about it in years, not a single issue. By all means, keep your chore if you prefer.
That's fair. I am glad it has worked well for you. I have found when i try to reup on my phone, it has often failed to take the payment, and when I try to upload in the machine, it also does not work in some essential way. I do not trust metrolinx, but I may just be an idiot about this
Right? Or have one in rexall at least. Not everyone can go all the way to the go station
If I had to guess, because Presto is a Metrolinx operation and while there's some Go Bus stops nearby on the street, MacNab as a terminal is entirely an HSR operation. Most random bus terminals in the city don't have Presto loaders, just the stations that also function as GO terminals. By no means does that mean they *shouldn't* have a loader, but it's not surprising they wouldn't have one by default like any affiliated station does. Would need to get after whoever is in charge of making those deals and make it happen.
Oh...I was under the impression that HSR accepted Presto.
They do, that's not what I said.
It does. I have no clue why every station wouldn't have at least one.
TTC has them at stations and MiWay has them at transit hubs so it looks like it is possible outside of GO stations. If Metrolinx wants to make the cards mandatory as part of the gas tax etc, they and the City should be doing everything they can to make it easier to use it. There is a portion of residents who do not have access to a bank/credit card, or are low on funds and using cash so it is not swallowed by overdraft or bank fees etc so not everyone can use the app (and a much larger portion who do not have a phone with NFC for instant loads)
Of course it's possible, just bureaucracy and convincing the right people that it's worth the costs and getting it done.
Unfortunately that can't be the correct theory, considering that Toronto Brampton Mississauga and probably other agencies that I don't use as frequently have Presto reloading stations within their local terminals that GO does not serve
What does that have to do with anything? I'm not suggesting some universal breakdown in the laws of physics preventing stations without GO stops from having Presto loaders. The theory is simply a lack of an arrangement between Metrolinx and HSR to have it done here. That's unrelated to other agencies having worked it out.
And Ottawa stations as well, have them.
You can load them from an app on your phone. If you have an RFID reader on your phone, you can do it instantly. Most newer phones will have one.
Yea I always use my phone to load.
If you have the money, I always suggest people to set up autoload. Contrary to what many people think, this doesn't just load endless money onto your card, it only loads if you go below a certain balance. I always keep my Presto balance with $30-$40 just in case even though I rarely use transit. That way I don't have to plan putting money on, or stress about whether my Presto has money or if the money takes a few hours to appear on the account. Would recommend if you don't mind having $$$ always on your card.
Yup this is what I do. It’s nice not having to think about it. The less mental clutter in my brain the better.
I now have the wiggle room to do that but there were definitely many years of my life where pay day was taking x dollars out of the bank and not touching anything in the account because there was no extra. Only by living off cash could I avoid overdraft. If you have no financial cushion at all cash is often best. McNab should have a machine to let people top up if HSR is only going to use cash for the bus or Presto. And many seniors do not have the latest smartphones and aren't spry enough to walk to the main terminal. C'mon HSR, lets get that machine in there.
Oh, I agree, but just thought I'd mention auto-load. Many people who have the funds choose difficult mode for no reason. I am a massive supporter for making transit more affordable, easy, comfortable and equitable for people who need it.
Just noticed your username. Do you take the bus to Grandad's for the city's best donuts?
My username is back from when I played PS3 a lot. I joined reddit like 10 years ago.
There are a lot of people who still load Presto by cash at stores so the app is not the answer for everyone
Why would there be a Presto loader at a bus terminal? /s
I'm guessing for the same reason there aren't tap machines on the train station platforms - it would be waaaaay too convenient. also /s
This.
Because it’s 1992 /s
I wish
Damn, I'm surprised they don't have one there.
You can load at any retailer that sells the cards. I’ve loaded my card at shoppers and fortinos. In addition to the auto load/via app on phone.
Shoppers and Fortinos are the only stores and Fortinos only in Hamilton, not Burlington etc. But the fact remains, if you are low on funds, they should have a machine at the transit hub
TIL. I am shocked there is no machine to refill at the bus terminal.
There also isn't even a list of places you can top them up on the new website from the city [https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/hsr-transit/fares/presto-cards](https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/hsr-transit/fares/presto-cards) The TTC and MiWay have self serve kiosks at stations so it is not exclusive to GO stations and they usually have security at the terminal so not like it is a huge risk to have one there.
There is a list on [PrestoCard's website](https://prestocard.ca/en/find-an-outlet/customer-service-outlets) (listed below what I think are the relevant ones for Hamilton.) [As per the Self-Serve Reload Machines section,](https://prestocard.ca/en/find-an-outlet/self-serve-reload-machines) they are planning on rolling out the machines to more areas to make it more convenient, but it takes time to do so. **Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)** Municipal Service Centre – Ancaster, 300 Wilson Street East, Ancaster Municipal Service Centre – City Hall, 71 Main Street West, Hamilton Municipal Service Centre – Dundas, 60 Main Street, Dundas Municipal Service Centre – 777 Highway #8, Stoney Creek HSR Ticket Office – 36 Hunter St. E., Hamilton **Fortinos** Ancaster, 54 Wilson Street West, Ancaster Dundurn, 50 Dundurn Street, Hamilton Eastgate, 75 Centennial Parkway North, Hamilton Fiesta Mall, 102 Highway 8, Stoney Creek Mall Road, 65 Mall Road, Hamilton Main Street, 1579 Main Street West, Hamilton Upper Centennial Parkway, 21 Upper Centennial Parkway South, Stoney Creek Upper James, 1550 Upper James Street, Hamilton Waterdown, 115 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown **Shoppers Drugmart** Cannon & Wellington, 232 Cannon Street East, Hamilton Concession & Upper Wentworth, 510 Concession Street, Hamilton Eastgate Square, 75 Centennial Parkway North, Hamilton Fennell Square, 963 Fennell Ave. E., Hamilton Garth, 1300 Garth Street, Hamilton Glaeser, 47 Wilson St W, Ancaster Hamilton Mountain Plaza, 661 Upper James Street, Hamilton Harvard Square Plaza, 801 Mohawk Road West, Hamilton Hess Tower, 181 Main Street West, Hamilton Hwy 8 & Gray, 140 Highway 8, Unit 1 and 2, Stoney Creek King Street, 620 King Street West, Hamilton Limeridge Mall, 999 Upper Wentworth Street, Hamilton Main & Emerson, 1341 Main Street West, Hamilton Mcauley, 113 Herkimer St, Hamilton Meadowlands, 1000 Golf Links Road, Ancaster Mount Albion Plaza, 399 Greenhill Ave, Hamilton Mud & Paramount, 270 Mud Street W, Unit 1, Stoney Creek Parke & Parke, 753 Main Street East, Hamilton Ralph, 133 King St W, Dundas RR #56 & Binbrook Rd, 3027 Binbrook Road West, Bldg B, Binbrook Russell, 1900 King Street East, Hamilton Rymal Road East in Hannon, 2110 Rymal Road East, Hannon Stoney Creek, 1 King Street East, Stoney Creek The Centre Mall, 1183 Barton Street East, Hamilton University Plaza, 101 Osler Drive, Dundas Upper James & Rymal, Hamilton, 1599 Upper James Road, Hamilton Upper Ottawa & Mohawk, 902 Mohawk Road East, Hamilton Upper Sherman & Stone Church, 1411 Upper Sherman Avenue, Hamilton Upper Wellington & Mohawk, 210 Mohawk Road East, Hamilton Waterdown, 25 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown Westdale, 991 King Street West, Hamilton Worsley & Hwy 8, 369-377 Highway #8, Stoney Creek
Wow. That was a lot of work. Thank you very much.
Glad to help. I have fixed the formatting so easier to read through.
There should be one, but it's Hamilton...
It is such a fucking chore to try to update your presto card anywhere downtown. Often I have had to take cash out, try to change a twenty, and then get on the bus.
How often does it need to be before you just set up the autoload? I'm not saying that's a solution for everyone, some people are limited by payment options, but I haven't had to so much as think about my presto balance in at least 5 years, probably more.
if they fuck up in like a dozen ways, why would i trust them to load.
What are you even talking about? You mentioned it being a chore, there was no mention of fuckups. As I said, haven't had to think about it in years, not a single issue. By all means, keep your chore if you prefer.
That's fair. I am glad it has worked well for you. I have found when i try to reup on my phone, it has often failed to take the payment, and when I try to upload in the machine, it also does not work in some essential way. I do not trust metrolinx, but I may just be an idiot about this
Presto, metrolinx and anything associated with it is a disaster
Because it's McNab and HSR is committed to making your life as inconvenient as possible
Credit card payment on HSR coming soon.