MSE News: London buses may stop taking cash next year

chattychappy

Typical arrogance from what is effectively a monopoly provider. Handling cash is a bit of a pain, but so few people use it these days it doesn't really hold up buses. As for the cost of handling it - well, I'm sure that's reflected in the differential. Plenty of other businesses have to face this issue.

I'm sure Starbucks would love everybody to pay by pre-pay card - especially in busy locations. But they have to compete for business and people could run off to Costa or Nero if they turned away cash business.

TfL are meant to be running a service. They should be looking to serve customers in the way they want to be served rather than dictating terms when we have no realistic choice.

The consultation is a sham - they've already decided. Once they've abolished cash fares they'll put up Oyster fares anyway.

JezR

traveller2 wrote: »

Is there a ticket machine at every stop?

Curb-side ticket machines are also on the way out.

flyingscotno1

LimeLight wrote: »

In Edinburgh you have to buy your ticket from the machine before boarding.

You don't. It's exact fare on bus and very few stops have machines.

martindow

Apparently we are all going to end up with contactless debit cards soon so withith Oyster or a card as available options it is reasonable to phase out cash. The big drivers for refusing cash are the costs of counting and banking it, driver safety as there is nothing to steal and speed of boarding.

Another option would be cash vaults as in Reading but this would involve the expense of fitting hundreds of buses and might well encourage more cash fares and cause longer boarding times.

wealdroam

chattychappy wrote: »

The consultation is a sham - they've already decided. Once they've abolished cash fares they'll put up Oyster fares anyway.

Really?

What makes you think that?

Of course if you, and others who think likewise, decide not to let TfL know your views, then the cash payment facility will be withdrawn.

iAMaLONDONER

chattychappy wrote: »

Typical arrogance from what is effectively a monopoly provider. Handling cash is a bit of a pain, but so few people use it these days it doesn't really hold up buses. As for the cost of handling it - well, I'm sure that's reflected in the differential. Plenty of other businesses have to face this issue.

I'm sure Starbucks would love everybody to pay by pre-pay card - especially in busy locations. But they have to compete for business and people could run off to Costa or Nero if they turned away cash business.

TfL are meant to be running a service. They should be looking to serve customers in the way they want to be served rather than dictating terms when we have no realistic choice.

The consultation is a sham - they've already decided. Once they've abolished cash fares they'll put up Oyster fares anyway.

I agree that cash fares should be still in place!

chattychappy

wealdroam wrote: »

Really?

What makes you think that?

A friend who is working at TfL on this project. You'll notice the PR is pro-abolition. It's hardly a neutral exercise. One advert for the consultation refers to "saving you money by using Oyster". Completely wrong, of course, because anyone can use Oyster already. They need to do the consultation, but are determined to get the result they want.

wealdroam wrote: »

Of course if you, and others who think likewise, decide not to let TfL know your views, then the cash payment facility will be withdrawn.

Well I'll bung them a couple of lines, of course. But they don't really want to know, they just want to be able to claim they consulted before making such a move. TfL are judge and jury here. In the end, only if there is a political row will they be forced to change their minds.

Not only would I have them accepting cash, but I'd have them taking Euros too. That would be a great courtesy to the many tourists that come here.

Marcher89

The issue with this is the insufficient amount of top up stations. Currently if you want to use a bus in London you have to visit a Tube station to top up your oyster. If they go cashless then they'll have to increase the number of top up facilities at bus stops.

wealdroam

Marcher89 wrote: »

Currently if you want to use a bus in London you have to visit a Tube station to top up your oyster.

That simply isn't true.

Consider Auto top-up:

Auto top-up
Auto top-up makes sure you never run out of pay as you go credit by automatically topping up your Oyster card with money from your credit or debit card, whenever your pay as you go balance falls below £10.

Your card is automatically topped up when you touch your Oyster card on a yellow card reader at the start of a journey on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground or National Rail services.

Sbarkia

Like many others I rarely go to London and even then only use buses occasionally so an Oyster card is hardly a viable option. They are no doubt fine for Londoners, and even those tourists who want to explore the city and are informed in advance how the system works and where they can get a card, but for the rest of us it will be a nightmare. Of course I'll record my views but, like others, doubt it will make any difference and they have undoubtedly decided to do away with cash whatever their customers say.