Demand for Transit Cards Surges with High Adoption of Digital Ticketing Systems in Developed Countries

 

Transit cards are a form of credit card that is tied to a specific bus or subway system in a city. These cards allow a passenger of a given bus or subway system to take either an unlimited number of trips within a set period of time or a specific number of trips within a set period of time based on the card. The adoption of digital ticketing systems in developed countries is high, which in turn boosts demand for transit cards. For instance, in June 2019, Government of Washington, U.S., announced to offer some 1,500 Seattle Housing Authority residents the free unlimited ORCA passes as part of a one-year, US$ 1 million pilot program.

Unlike a credit card or other type of monthly plastic card, there is no annual fee attached to a Transit Card. Some systems will also offer an automatic fare ticket machine, making it easier to obtain a fare from a bus or subway system. Many people choose to purchase a bus or subway pass as opposed to a monthly bus pass primarily for the convenience of having it attached to their regular Visa/MC or MasterCard/Maestro card for easy access to their cards and farebooks.

Using transit cards, a single fare can be purchased at any time, not just when you arrive into a city. Passengers must show their valid and regulated bus or subway card at the entrance to the train or bus and present it at the time of check in. Customers may also be required to show photo identification, a printed copy of their passport or other form of ID such as a driver's license. It is advisable to carry your reusable travel card with you whenever riding public transport. This allows you to pay your fare with your reusable travel card and not worry about mispayment or theft.

A popular alternative to paying with a single travel card or pass is the use of a multi-fare or multi-transit cards. Multi-fare or multi-transit cards are used at points of vending machines that accept both Metro Transit fares and other forms of plastic payments. The most popular systems will usually provide a change to customers for each piece of plastic they pay for using a bus or subway pass. Some of these systems may also provide a free beverage or snack for customers who purchase a round trip fare using a plastic card.