Brighton Buses: Google Wallet Fare Trial Launch
Brighton & Hove Buses is set to launch the first trial of Google Wallet fare tracking. The trial will be conducted in London and will allow passengers to use their Google Pay app to pay for their bus fares. The operator will also be using Google Maps to provide real-time information about bus arrivals and departures. Google Wallet fare tracking uk
The trial is part of a wider effort by the UK government to encourage the use of contactless payments. The government has set a target of having 80% of all payments in the UK made using contactless by 2025.
The use of Google Wallet for fare tracking could have several benefits for passengers. It could make it easier and more convenient to pay for fares, and it could also provide passengers with more information about their journeys.
The feature “will simplify the way passengers manage their mobile payments for bus journeys” and “provide customers with greater visibility into their ride history and savings accrued through time-based fare caps,” according to Go-Ahead Group, the public transport provider that owns Brighton & Hove Buses. Google Wallet fare tracking uk
“Most of our passengers are already using digital or contactless payment methods, so it makes sense for us to trial new ways in which we can further enhance the customers’ journey. With 60 million passengers on our buses a year, the customer experience is a top priority,” Brighton & Hove Buses’s commercial director Nick Hill adds.
For bus operators, the use of Google Wallet could also have many benefits. It could reduce the amount of time that passengers spend queuing to pay for fares, and it could also help to improve the accuracy of fare collection.
The trial is expected to last for six months, and the operator will be closely monitoring its impact on passenger behavior and revenue. If the trial is successful, it could be rolled out to other bus operators across the UK.
Here is a summary of the benefits of using Google Wallet for fare tracking:
- Convenience: Passengers can pay for their fares using their smartphones, without having to carry cash or a physical ticket.
- Real-time information: Passengers can use Google Maps to see real-time information about bus arrivals and departures.
- Accuracy: Fare collection can be more accurate, as passengers will be less likely to miscalculate their fares.
- Reduced queuing: Passengers will spend less time queuing to pay for fares, which will help to reduce congestion at bus stops.
- Increased revenue: Operators can collect more revenue, as passengers will be less likely to avoid paying fares.