Stagecoach Manchester

[Quackdave]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(28/02/2017 11:28)Dentonian Wrote:  Totally disagree. None of the alternatives - especially iphones - are a. universally available or b. 100% reliable

Maybe not universally, but around 90% of adults have a debit card, the vast majority contactless, and most will generally have it with them at all times (unlike the correct cash fare).

Whilst I would like buses to accept both cash and card payments, if I were forced to choose one or the other, then it would be the ability to pay by card, no contest. (And I imagine a majority of passengers and drivers would agree.)

As long as there is an adequate and widely available PAYG card alternative for those who don't have debit cards (particularly those who aren't old enough to have them) and who don't travel regularly enough to get a period ticket, I do think it would be reasonable to at least start disincentivising on-bus cash payments - perhaps by applying the next fare increase to cash fares only, whilst freezing prices for electronic payments.