Gautrain, or, how not to operate a bus service

I've heard some rumblings in the media about the lack of ridership on Gautrain buses, as if it is an indication of the unwillingness of Jo'burgers to embrace public transport.  Certainly, I see the buses run frequently and I've never seen more than 2 passengers at a time on one.  Mind you, I'm usually viewing this through the window of a MetroBus crammed with people.  So, what gives?  Why would the public -- seasoned bus riders or otherwise -- forgo such swank new rides?

Is it that the routes are foreign?  Yes, but they also fill in necessary gaps that MetroBus omits, so surely there would be a demand there.  Is it because they cost more?  Possibly, but at R20 a trip, I think they're still pretty affordable.

I realized the enormous problem with the Gautrain buses when I tried to catch a lift on the Fourways to Sandton route.  I'd wondered if you could pay with cash, so I checked out the website.  You can't!  OK, well, not to worry too much.  I already had a Gautrain gold card from a train ride a few months ago -- I'd just refill it.  Good luck with that.  To refill your card you have to go to...the Gautrain station.  Where the bus takes you!  Ah logic, you old devil, you.

So I did further research (that's what I'm here for, folks) and found out that there now are a few additional locations where one can purchase a bus pass.  And one was in Fourways -- I was in luck!  Departing for an early lunch break, I spent more than an hour navigating the endless dreck of Fourways, and after asking three different people for directions, I finally came upon the Pineslopes Spar.  With card in hand, I asked at the customer service desk to add bus fare, and was pointed towards a machine where, along with airtime for all cell carriers, was one button for the Gautrain card preloaded with R30.  Yep, R20 for the bus and R10 for the card.  So much for those reusable cards we've all been carrying around!

According to the Gautrain website there are now six -- SIX! -- such machines throughout the entire city of Jo'burg.  So, those are your options for filling up your card, unless you do that at the station.  Sorry, but what is so hard about putting these machines in more places?  Certainly the ones with just airtime are everywhere. 

Gautrain buses are doomed for failure, plain and simple, and it's such a damn shame.  When it happens, it won't actually be an indictment of public transport in this city, but watch how many people will claim that it is.  It will be due purely to poor management decisions about the bus operations.  The buses already don't run on weekends or public holidays -- exactly the time when folks might want to dash off for a short getaway.  But when they do operate, they're empty because the people who run the show made it too damn tough to get onboard.  If you want people to accept your buses, you can't make them jump through hoops to do it.  Tickets should be available everywhere, or better yet...JUST TAKE CASH!