why oyster?

Hi

No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been wondering
why an oystercard is called an oystercard?

Why not clamcard or mollusccard?

I rather like mollusccard.

Regards
Clyde

Phil Clark wrote:
> On Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:06:46 +0000, Ian Jelf
> <ian@bluebadge.> wrote:
>
>
>>In message <TKFEf.65602$mu.30203@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk> , CLYDE
>>DEMPSTER <clyde.dempster@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been wondering
>>>why an oystercard is called an oystercard?
>>
>>I presume (though without any justification) that it's a pun on "the
>>world is your Oyster", implying how far and how much you can do with
>>one. (Enter discussion about Pre-pay validity on NR, peripheral bus
>>routes and so on.......)
>
>
> As Tom points out, I assume it's partly because the Hong Kong version
> is called "Octopus", and partly because you can keep it closed when
> you go through the barriers.

Is it not because the yellow things you touch in and out on look vaguely
oyster shaped?

"Phil Clark" <saxmund@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:csm7u1pbfsqvqa7m94da1pdaegviuh4ao0@...
> On Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:06:46 +0000, Ian Jelf
> <ian@bluebadge.> wrote:
>
>>In message <TKFEf.65602$mu.30203@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk> , CLYDE
>>DEMPSTER <clyde.dempster@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>No doubt this has been asked and answered before but i have been
>>>wondering
>>>why an oystercard is called an oystercard?
>>
>>I presume (though without any justification) that it's a pun on "the
>>world is your Oyster", implying how far and how much you can do with
>>one. (Enter discussion about Pre-pay validity on NR, peripheral bus
>>routes and so on.......)
>
> As Tom points out, I assume it's partly because the Hong Kong version
> is called "Octopus", and partly because you can keep it closed when
> you go through the barriers.

A few 'pearls' of wisdom there then!

Paul