First Bus’ City Red service in Southampton has introduced a new ‘tap-and-cap’ contactless payment method and Express Mode for Apple Pay, offering two alternative ways to avoid paying by cash for bus journeys.
The ‘tap-and-cap’ method enables bus users to tap their contactless bank card or a contactless-enabled device on a Ticketer contactless card reader as they board buses within the Southampton city zone.
Ticketer’s readers connect to transit payment processor Littlepay’s platform to aggregate fares, apply fare caps and process payments.
‘Tap-and-cap’ users do not need to tell the driver their destination or wait for a ticket. According to First, this will enable an easier flow of customers on to buses, so they can more easily adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Furthermore, by using a First Bus traveller portal provided by Littlepay, passengers using ‘tap-and-cap’ can track journeys and payments they have made and see where they have saved.
Giles Fearnley, managing director at First Bus, said: “’Tap-and-cap’ gives customers the confidence to know they will always get the best value fare and makes our buses more accessible than ever, at a time when customers need access to increasingly flexible options to meet their changing travel requirements.
“Combined with the recent updates to our app, our new space checker tool and our pilot of pre-bookable services in the West of England, First Bus continues to be at the forefront of continuing to make public transport safe and simple.”
At the same time as launching ‘tap-and-cap’, City Red will introduce Express Mode for Apple Pay. This will enable customers with Apple Pay to access City Red bus services and pay for their ticket using their iPhone or Apple Watch without needing to wake or unlock the device, open an app or use Face ID or Touch ID.
For customers using Face ID on iPhone, Express Mode for Apple Pay has the additional advantage of allowing customers to keep their face covering on while boarding the bus.
There are plans to launch Express Mode across other First Bus networks before the end of the year, said First.
