Contactless cash: Ensuring that everyone is along for the ride
Katherine Conrad, Director of Client Services at NEORide, discusses the introduction of cash payments for mobile tickets across the EZfare payment system and why this is key to ensuring that the needs of both transit and its passengers are met.
NEORide, a Council of governments comprised of 17 transit systems dedicated to the development and promotion of regional public transportation services, have launched cash payments for mobile tickets across the EZfare payment system (which is enabled by Masabi). EZfare is currently being utilised by 14 transit agencies across Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan. With the continuation of COVID-19 and transit agencies increasingly seeking contactless and low-touch ticketing solutions, this move ensures that cash-paying riders will still have access to touch-free services.
How does it work?
Transit riders can load cash by visiting any of the participating agency’s transit centres and use cash or card to buy mobile tickets or to add funds to their EZfare or Transit App Account. These funds can then be used to buy tickets when needed. EZfare’s other partner apps – Uber and Moovit – plan to make this feature available by the end of 2021.
When visiting the transit centre, riders simply need to present their in-app Account ID barcode and select the ticket that they would like to buy or their EZfare Account Barcode, then pay using cash or card. Agencies will use Masabi’s Justride External Orders API to securely send visual and barcode tickets directly to riders using the EZfare and Transit apps or add value to their EZfare Accounts.
In addition to transit centres, EZfare will be integrating with multiple nationwide retail locations in the autumn of 2021. Once this integration is complete, transit passengers will be able to visit stores associated with InComm’s VanillaDirect Pay programme and load cash on to their EZfare Account. This feature will only be available on mobile phones at launch, but will be expanded to EZfare smartcards in 2022. Retail stores associated with the programme include Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, Kum & Go, Speedway, Walgreens and CVS.
NEORide, a Council of governments comprised of 17 transit systems dedicated to the development and promotion of regional public transportation services, have launched cash payments for mobile tickets across the EZfare payment system (which is enabled by Masabi). EZfare is currently being utilised by 14 transit agencies across Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan. With the continuation of COVID-19 and transit agencies increasingly seeking contactless and low-touch ticketing solutions, this move ensures that cash-paying riders will still have access to touch-free services.
How does it work?
Transit riders can load cash by visiting any of the participating agency’s transit centres and use cash or card to buy mobile tickets or to add funds to their EZfare or Transit App Account. These funds can then be used to buy tickets when needed. EZfare’s other partner apps – Uber and Moovit – plan to make this feature available by the end of 2021.
When visiting the transit centre, riders simply need to present their in-app Account ID barcode and select the ticket that they would like to buy or their EZfare Account Barcode, then pay using cash or card. Agencies will use Masabi’s Justride External Orders API to securely send visual and barcode tickets directly to riders using the EZfare and Transit apps or add value to their EZfare Accounts.
In addition to transit centres, EZfare will be integrating with multiple nationwide retail locations in the autumn of 2021. Once this integration is complete, transit passengers will be able to visit stores associated with InComm’s VanillaDirect Pay programme and load cash on to their EZfare Account. This feature will only be available on mobile phones at launch, but will be expanded to EZfare smartcards in 2022. Retail stores associated with the programme include Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, Kum & Go, Speedway, Walgreens and CVS.
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