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Public Transit
Proximity Technology and Mass Transit
Public transportation systems have long relied on paper tickets and passes for their buses, subways, trams and trolleys. Now, with mass transit system experiencing more and more riders, reusable passes are becoming more and more popular.
Proximity cards and RFID technology are a perfect fit for mass transit systems, especially so for frequent riders. Not only do they reduce the amount of tickets and waste a passenger produces, proximity technology also makes the transportation process more efficient.
So how would it work? Riders would purchase a card either from a kiosk, or from a public transportation office. Depending on the type of card and the transportation system, the card may be personalized (with a photo ID and personal information about the rider), or may be a generic card design. The passengers would have a certain amount of money stored on the card to pay for fares over a period of time.
More About Transit Passes
Proximity Technology and Mass TransitBefore boarding a bus, subway, streetcar or other form of mass transit, the rider would pass their proximity card or RFID card near a reader. The card and reader would exchange information about the trip; mainly whether the passenger had enough money on their card to pay for the trip. The reader automatically deducts the amount of the trip from the balance on the trip card. When the funds on the card have all been spent, the card can be "recharged" with more fare money. Many times, the bulk fare for riders choosing to use proximity or RFID-enabled trip cards is cheaper than paper tickets, providing more incentive to use this technology.
Cities are turning to proximity cards and RFID technology in droves, with more signing up each year. This technology is an ideal solution for public transportation - making the hectic process of commuting more efficient and cost-effective for both the riders and the cities. Here are some examples of successful proximity cards for mass transit system:
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Transit Authority - SmarTrip
Transport for London - Oyster card
Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority - Charlie Card
Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago Card
Alpha Card Systems has all the equipment you need to create proximity or RFID-enabled cards for your public transportation system. Whether you want printers, cards, software, or a complete system, our friendly proximity technology experts can help you find the system that's right for you.
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