Octopus............HKOyster.............LondonSF....................

Octopus............HK



Oyster.............London




SF.......................?

Sydney.....................?

SEA SLUG CARD?: While applauding an important step forward in the Bay Area's Translink universal transit pass program, Metropolitan Transportation Commission members were told Friday that the region lags behind other major metro areas, although it's catching up.

The Translink pass will allow riders to automatically renew their fare accounts and to move from one transit system to another without buying new tickets, fumbling for change or using transfers.

Modeled after similar systems in Hong Kong, using what has been dubbed the Octopus Card, and in London, which uses the Oyster Card, the Translink card might benefit from a "marine name," as well, joked one commissioner.

Several commissioners simultaneously suggested they call it the Shark Card, but commissioner Mark DeSaulnier, in tactful recognition that the Translink program has been plagued by numerous delays, disagreed.

"It would have to be something slower," he said.