Digital/payment barriers to participation

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Are there any ice skating facilities in the UK now that someone could attend a session without using a computer/smartphone, and pay using cash?


Partly on this topic, there is a debate scheduled 20th March 2023 -> https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/622284

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I think there are places you can turn up to without pre-booking - certainly Alexandra Palace and Chelmsford - but I think they are card-only and at Chelmsford you need to sign up for a card (which is free) before you can do anything there.  I think the roller rinks I go to you can turn up without prebooking though they get busy at times so it's a risk, pretty sure Flippers in London would take cash, not sure about Roller City in Welwyn.


I don't like the state dictating things especially to small businesses so not in favour of forcing businesses to accept cash, but I am certainly concerned about not being able to make anonymous transactions without a payment system behind them, and would think that any monopoly type provider e.g. an ice rink where you can't realistically choose to go somewhere else ought to be made to take cash, ideally.  The pre-book only thing winds me up more, as does Better's mad policy of every single activity only being bookable in one hour chunks, which means I refuse to have anything to do with them.

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Planet Ice and the Eden Project are cashless venues. Plymouth was happy to accept cash before it closed forever.

I have no problem paying by card but also feel that cash is important for people who don't cope with technology or have no access to it. I have to admit that I'm slightly spooked by paying for something by card and then having it relentlessly advertised to me for a week but... 

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During covid sessions were limited numbers, and all attendee data was handed over to Test and Trace; but that's ended for a while now.
The 'We're Good To Go' was used to continue trading; I'm not sure if business are still under any similar sort of arrangements now?

The fact that things have not gone back to how they were before is disconcerting;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salami_slicing_tactics

I feel like I'm using self-checkout at a supermarket <- like eww; that venues have lost a part of their humanity; you see pictures of those 'just walk out' stores; totally souless. Are sports venues going down this route too? It's just an app on your smartphone; it's just a QR code; it's just to save money because our costs have increased; we're just collecting the data for analytical purposes <- at the moment, etc..

It's my personal opinion that such venues should be forced to accept cash; however the legal definition of cash is a little weird. Perhaps as a possible alternative they could accept cash, but not give cash change (mantaining a float is a hassle for small businesses without local access to a decent bank) instead they could issue a 'change receipt' which could be used on future transactions at the venue. Also the cash could be inserted into a timelocked safe/till at the point of each transaction, to deter the chance of the place being robbed.

It feels like there is this overarching agenda to make everything digital, and as such you will probably never see this listed as a barrier to participation by the likes of Sport England et al.
Normally observation is by what you do see; never forget to think about what you don't see.
Since they have all the booking data, why haven't we seen stories about how participation has increased since (and because of) these new changes?
And how would you know why someone never uses a venue, or stops using it, if they don't turn up?
This country has an obesity problem, not to mention the important of maintaining existing health; surely you'd want to remove all, and any barriers to help fix this.

Things appear to be used as a 'vehicle' to push an idea, even at the expense of possibly destroying the original thing.
/rant

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I think I would agree with most/all of that.  Cash can be a hassle to handle, and costly, so your idea of a float is a good one.  They could issue you something like an Oyster card with it on.  Some cashless venues issue prepay cards I think mainly for kids who want to go on their own and are not old enough to have smartphones or credit or debit cards.  I think that's OK as long as you have the option to remain anonymous.


I realise human history has been full of technological progress involving reducing the amount of labour required to provide goods and services and that has given us lots of options, but I think that having humans on hand to provide services for those who prefer that or for the moments when the automation goes wrong is currently undervalued and I hope we find a balance where we don't necessarily have complete non-jobs just to keep people busy but on the other hand we have the option to interact with other humans in the course of our work and as consumers.


I don't do lots of busy public sessions any more, nor patch, but my impression is that participation is down compared to before covid.  Interested to hear what others say.

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Agreed about the balance part; technology is great, but it should never be the only option; business resilience, and inclusion is important.

Rinks (& other businesses) are basically saying, "we do not want your money". We would prefer to have to put prices up, cut services, reduce staff, and end the business, than take your cash. You are not included; if any tech component fails, our business fails with it.

For something believed to be written about 2,000 years ago, it was pretty specific about the future; Book of Revelation 13:17

On the participation front I predict that there will be a change of demographics in the people using these facilities/events.

Do I recall correctly (the date has past) that entry to Adult Nationals this year had to be done online only?
"Entries of competitors must be made on the individual skater’s membership profile."


For those interested: Debate relating to the acceptance of cash - Monday 20 March, 4.30pm
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1C3b887HDQ  (1:41:20)
Transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-20/debates/187CA19F-E3A9-48B1-B40A-869CB673F4A1/CashAcceptance

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If you struggle with technology or do not wish to use it, or if you wish to use only cash, your life is going to be very awkward indeed already, and it will only get worse.

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Just to add that I do get the irony of complaining about digital systems, via a digital system!

Saw this article recently, and there have been others too:

20th March 2023 - https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/03/20/the-cultural-revolution-is-devouring-sport/
"They have long recognised the importance of capturing and ultimately controlling sport.
From their standpoint, the popularity of sport makes it an ideal platform for influencing the masses."

This 2018 cartoon/meme is still relevant today:
https://stonetoss.com/comic/burger-kang/

- Behold, our newest sports/venue app.
- Are you sure this will help improve sports participation?
- Sports?

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Indeed


There will be tears before bedtime

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I was impressed with a recent trailer for Oppenheimer.
(Directed by Christopher Nolan; starring Cillian Murphy; 21st July)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK6ldnjE3Y0

Transcript:
We imagine a future, and our imaginings horrify us.
They won’t fear it until they understand it.
And they won’t understand it until they’ve used it.
Theory will take you only so far.
I don’t know if we can be trusted with such a weapon.
But we have no choice.
Is anyone ever going to tell the truth about what’s happening here?

This passage could also be applied to other technologies too.
The double-edged sword; can be useful, but also consequences.

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Indeed


I love the convenience that technology brings, but fear the way it makes it easier to control people.  The only defence against tyranny that can be relied upon is the resistance of the populace and technology makes that much easier to break down. IMO it’s a mistake to assume those that have power are kept in check by benevolent motives. Better to assume they are kept in check by fear of the consequences of overstepping boundaries of what people will put up with and by the sheer practical limitations of controlling people. Those limitations are gradually diminishing.