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London transport authority ends cash payment for bus fares
February 3, 2014
A public consultation seeking customers' views on proposals to withdraw cash fare payments drew more than 37,000 responses, the TfL said. Only about one-third of respondents agreed that cash fares should end, though 75 percent said they did not use cash themselves.
"We have taken into account all of the views expressed in consultation responses and have used these to shape a range of measures that will ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements," said the TfL news release. The measures include:
- a new 'one more journey' feature on Oyster that will allow passengers who have less than the single bus fare on their card but do have a positive balance on the card to make one more bus journey before they have to add funds to the card;
- a review of the Oyster Ticket Stop network to determine whether additional locations are needed, particularly in outer London;
- a public information campaign to increase awareness of the benefits of contactless payment cards and Oyster pay-as-you-go, which offer a single bus fare for 95 pence ($1.50) less than the current cash fare.
In the press release, Leon Daniels, managing director for TfL surface Transport issued a statement about the change:
Paying with Oyster or a contactless payment card is not only the cheapest option, but also speeds up boarding times at bus stops and reduces delays.
It costs £24 million a year to accept cash on London's buses and by removing this option we will generate significant savings which, like all of our income, will be reinvested in improvements to the transport network.
With the acceptance of contactless payment cards to be extended to London Underground and London Rail services later this year, the use of cash is expected to continue to fall, the TfL said.
Read more about trends and statistics.
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