USA: The San Francisco Bay Area’s BART introduced tap-in tap-out payment with contactless bank cards or mobile services on August 20.
BART said removing the need to use a Clipper smart card would be a timesaver for passengers as no registration or top-up process is required. The Tap & Ride system implemented by Cubic Transportation Systems accepts cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Network. Some HealthEquity debit cards do not work, and will need to be replaced.
Using Tap and Ride
Each rider must pay with their own card or mobile device. If family members have the same credit card number but they are on different cards and devices, they will be able to use it.
Passengers will be charged full adult fares. Reduced fares such as Clipper START or youth or senior discounts are currently only available using a physical or digital Clipper card; adding them is envisaged for the future. Transfer discounts will not be available until contactless payment is rolled out to the region’s other transport agencies.
To avoid card-clash, people who wish to continue using a physical Clipper card should take it out of their wallet or purse when they pay. If they want to continue using digital Clipper in an Apple Wallet, they need to make sure Express Mode is turned on for Clipper card. Android devices will automatically present the digital Clipper card if the user has one in Google Wallet.
Bay Area expansion
BART Tap and Ride is the first step in the transition toward the next generation of the Clipper fare payment system which is being implemented by the region’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
MTC said contactless bank cards will soon be accepted by other Bay Area transit agencies, and once the next generation of Clipper is rolled out area-wide, Tap & Ride will include all discounted fares and transfers.
