MSE News: No more cash fares on London buses from Sunday 4 July 2014 at 4:29PM in Public transport & cycling 37 replies 4.9K views

Former_MSE_Helen

You'll need an Oyster card or contactless card to travel on London's buses from Sunday as cash fares are being axed...

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No more cash fares on London buses from Sunday




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Pincher

Loads of cities in Europe has tourist cards that includes a travelcard (1 day/3 day/1 week). Why don't we introduce a London card for £10 (one day), £20 (3 days) £40 (one week) which the bus drivers can carry and sell?


Throw in some discounts like 10% off Starbucks, free Pepsi at Pizza Hut with a meal, which should cost nothing as they will probably pay for getting the business.

dzug1

Pincher wrote: »

Loads of cities in Europe has tourist cards that includes a travelcard (1 day/3 day/1 week). Why don't we introduce a London card for £10 (one day), £20 (3 days) £40 (one week) which the bus drivers can carry and sell?
.

Um - such a thing already exists, at (mainly) less cost than you are suggesting.



Only not sold by bus drivers


The main losers from this are one off or infrequent visitors, particularly those arriving late in the day after sales outlets for Oyster or travelcards have closed.

Pincher

dzug1 wrote: »

Um - such a thing already exists, at (mainly) less cost than you are suggesting.

£10 to make giving change almost unnecessary.

dzug1 wrote: »

Only not sold by bus drivers

It's just so there is something to buy and get on with the journey, instead of sorry, please get off the bus. A Chinese tourist will have a Union Pay card, maybe a Master Card, but they still sign a slip to pay for things, so no Wave and Pay. But they will have cash. Let's face it, if you have no credit card and no cash, how did you expect to travel?

dzug1 wrote: »

The main losers from this are one off or infrequent visitors, particularly those arriving late in the day after sales outlets for Oyster or travelcards have closed.

I have bought lots of tourist cards in lots of cities. I typically take a couple of bus rides and maybe an underground trip or two. Most of the time, I would have been better off buying singles if I wanted to deal with small change and work out the fares, because you are in a city to see things, not to ride the bus to get value for a Travelcard. I am HAPPY to pay for the one day card for the convenience.

If you are in a group, it could be cheaper to take a taxi.
You can also use Boris bikes,
If you are the kind that works it out down to the penny beforehand, you wouldn't be stuck, arguing with a bus driver that you have money, and holding everybody else up.

mjm3346

I doubt the extra charge for cash fares came close to covering the cost of time lost and of having/maintaining/replacing machines on every bus, getting a float, cashing up, bank charges etc.
No cash also removes the risk of the driver being attacked for their takings.

chattychappy

Typical arrogance of TfL.

I'm sure lots of businesses would like to tell customers that they can't pay by cash anymore and must pay in a manner that suits the company. But somehow they all manage to deal with cash efficiently.

Just another step that makes London a little nastier in my opinion.

mattyprice4004

There's 2 sides to it, however for the safety of the driver and the cost savings of having to deal with cash, I'd have done the same.

Contactless is very common now, and there's tonnes of 24 hour shops in London where you could get a travelpass from.

gongoozler

Don't worry Boris, you will get loads more money from October when you get toll income from the M25 bridge that was supposed to be free when it was paid for by us....thanks all you in power...NOT

livesf

For those who don't have a non-contactless or an Oyster, they'll have to get one. Without that, they just can't travel on the TfL services (Bus or train). If someone comes from another part of the country, not bringing their credit cards, they can't travel. They'll have to get an Oyster and fill it up. Just more work for the hard workers who want to visit London.

wealdroam

livesf wrote: »

For those who don't have a non-contactless or an Oyster, they'll have to get one. Without that, they just can't travel on the TfL services (Bus or train). If someone comes from another part of the country, not bringing their credit cards, they can't travel. They'll have to get an Oyster and fill it up. Just more work for the hard workers who want to visit London.

What??

Have the trains gone cashless too?

One can still buy a paper Travelcard with cash, can't they?

dzug1

wealdroam wrote: »

What??

Have the trains gone cashless too?

One can still buy a paper Travelcard with cash, can't they?

The trains have not gone cashless


Yes you can buy a (one day) paper travelcard with cash. Only at a ticket office or machine though - not from an Oyster ticket stop.