Myki
Fare calculation and default fares
### Fare calculation and default fares

[thumb\|First generation *Myki* fare payment device on board a bus in [Geelong](/wiki/Geelong%2C_Victoria "Geelong, Victoria")](/wiki/File:Myki-fpd.jpg "Myki-fpd.jpg")
[thumb\|upright\|A Myki reader aboard a tram in Maribyrnong](/wiki/File:MykiReaderTram.jpg "MykiReaderTram.jpg")
[thumb\|Newer myki gate at [Blackburn station](/wiki/Blackburn_railway_station%2C_Melbourne "Blackburn railway station, Melbourne") made by [Vix Technology](/wiki/Vix_Technology "Vix Technology")](/wiki/File:Myki_new_Vix_reader_Blackburn.jpg "Myki new Vix reader Blackburn.jpg")

Myki is a multi\-modal fare and ticketing system based on zones. Metropolitan Melbourne is divided into two zones (Zones 1 and 2\). Outside of metropolitan Melbourne there are a further fourteen zones (Zones 3–16\). There are areas of overlap between some zones (notably Zones 1 and 2\), where locations exist within both zones.

The Myki system calculates the cheapest fare for a passenger based on the time and zone(s) travelled in on a given day. Fares are assessed on the basis of a two\-hour fare or a daily fare. Longer periods, of 7 days or 28–365 days, can be pre\-loaded into the card as a **Myki pass** giving unlimited travel within a nominated zone or zones for the relevant period. If a 365\-day pass is purchased, the days above 325 are free of charge. Myki fares are based on the time and zone fares used under the previous Metcard system (with zones expanded to cover the [V/Line](/wiki/V/Line "V/Line") commuter belt), with the exception of the single trip "City Saver" fare which was not made available under the Myki system.

If a Myki card is not touched off at the completion of a journey the system will charge a **default fare**, which for Melbourne travel is equal to the most expensive journey that could have been undertaken by a passenger, based on the location of touch on. Passengers do not need to touch off when alighting a tram unless their travel is only within Zone 2\. Prior to the introduction of Myki, a separate fares and ticketing system existed for all [V/Line](/wiki/V/Line "V/Line") (country) services, based on paper tickets. This system still operates on V/Line services that run outside of the commuter belt area and where reserved seating is required.

Following the [2022 Victorian state election](/wiki/2022_Victorian_state_election "2022 Victorian state election") promise, a daily fare cap has been introduced where regardless of the number of zones travelled, the fare cap applied would be the same as a Zone 1\+2 fare. This change was made to encourage public transport use and reduce the burden for people living in regional Victoria, as well as boosting regional tourism. However, there are criticisms due to the lower frequency of services in regional Victoria, where it is unknown whether the demand would be too big for the current system to handle and the unwillingness of the government to increase the service frequency.


Why was the single trip 'City Saver' fare not made available under the Myki system?