New Smartcard ticketing system for Canberra Buses
Posted on July 8, 2009 by by valerirojas
” Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, today announced Downer EDI Engineering Power Pty Ltd would install ACTION’s new $8 million smartcard ticketing system.”
“Canberrans can look forward to a new ticketing system that is fast, easy and flexible,” Mr Stanhope said. “It will offer bus users a reusable and rechargeable card for travel on all ACTION buses.
The new ticketing system will be available in the second half of 2010.
“Bus users will be able to recharge their smartcard over the internet, phone or at other card facilities across the ACT. A one-use ticket will also be available for casual users and tourists.
“The new smart card system is an important part of the ACT Government’s investment in developing a more efficient and user-friendly bus network.”
This is a great innitiave which has been used in other Australian cities and overseas, but I am not sure it will make a more efficient bus network.
How about smartcards for car parking  in the city or smartcards for taxi rides or even light rail systems?
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3 Comments to “New Smartcard ticketing system for Canberra Buses”
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An interesting concept but being a non-driver and regular commuter I am very aware of the problems with ticketing systems. I hope they have addressed the problems of lost and stolen cards, accidental damage to cards (scratches, breaking, chipped) and readers that don’t work properly and leave the commuter stranded because they have put an error message on the card ‘memory’. Also, how will operator error be addressed when the driver accidentally dials up the wrong fare? (not always the driver’s fault as some passengers don’t give clear requests).
I rotate between using a monthly ticket and a 10-trip ticket with shopper daily fares on weekends. How are different types of fares going to be logistically organised. With a topped up card, how does a commuter know when their monthly ticket has run out, or their weekly ticket, without it automatically defaulting to a full fare adult daily fare?
I see lots of difficulties and commuter resistance. Plus, there is a frightful cost of putting a reader into every bus and maintaining it.
Putting a smartcard reader in carparks, however, makes a lot more sense.
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PS
It is interesting that this comment comes up AFTER a fare increase where the majority of regular passengers are still using tickets that they purchased prior to the increase. Sounds like poor grace fromthe politicians who never have to shell out for a bus ticket.
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These are all good points, they will also need to work on the backend security system specially if that particular system was cracked in Perth last year
http://mdart.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/perths-new-smartrider-cracked/
But I am sure they will be looking at all these issues.
I wonder if there was some sort of community consultation or community feedback on it?
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