Transport for London introduces new rules barring cash payments for bus fare
Those using public transportation in London will no longer be able to pay their bus fair with cash. Transport for London, the city’s public transit authority, has begun implementing new rules that bar bus drivers from accepting cash, meaning that passengers will have to make use of prepaid cards or concessionary tickets. This also open the way for the use of mobile payments, allowing travelers to pay their bus fare with nothing more than their mobile device.
Mobile commerce and public transit are beginning to grow more closely together
Mobile commerce and public transportation synergize well. Digital payments are often praised for their convenience, allowing consumers to purchase goods and services relatively quickly. This is why mobile commerce has become quite popular among commuters, as it allows them to make purchase wherever they are and at any time. Because so many people have mobile devices, the idea of combing mobile payments and public transportation seems natural.
New rules are not likely to affect the majority of those making use of London’s buses on a daily basis
According to Transport for London, the majority of consumers will be unaffected by its new rules. An estimated 99% of people using the city’s buses already pay their fare through the use of prepaid cards or tickets. These rules are being considered another step in London’s ongoing “payment revolution,” which is personified by those using alternative payment methods and abandoning cash. The demand for mobile-centric payment services is on the rise as well, with more businesses opting to support mobile commerce alongside more traditional forms of commerce.
New service introduces more convenience to the public transportation system
Transport for London has also introduced a new service that is designed to make public transportation more convenient for people throughout the City. The One More Journey service allows people to make one more trip if they do not have enough money on their prepaid cards to cover bus fare. Some 44,000 people have benefitted from this new service since its introduction in June.
