(19 May 2020, 10:41 am)Adrian wrote This is the thing though, it should be spec'd in the tender. Not down to an operator to decide not to provide something.
We should be making bus travel attractive, and Nexus (as the operational front of the ITA), have a key role to play in that. It's not just down to the big three operators. Arguably contactless payment, especially in the current climate, makes bus travel more attractive. It provides passenger choice, and it likely creates bus journeys that wouldn't otherwise be made - people not having change, cash on them, etc.
The 2%-3% extra (per transaction) should be more than covered by the 2% increase in BSOG rate (smart card incentive), on top of the standard BSOG payment. They're also getting an extra 6p/km for using LCEB certified buses.
Is it Nexus or GCT that sets ticket prices on contracted service, and are they similar to what GNE charges on their journeys during the day? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be happy with a 10p increase in ticket prices to cover the cost to use contactless
I rarely even carry cash now, on occasions I may have some notes, but certainly not coins. So the fact that they don't offer contactless payments, and don't give change (whether it's a company policy or not is irrelevant, if I board the bus and they say I won't get change, I'm getting back off) means I'd be finding another way to travel.
When was the last time you went in to a shop and they didn't take contactless? Even market stalls do, so it's crazy to think they don't.