A digital payment pilot for public service vehicles will start in the next two to three weeks, with transport operators hoping it will eliminate paper tickets, reduce fare fraud and modernise the island’s transit network.
The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) confirmed that final preparations are underway to equip eight public service vehicles with automated fare technology. The trial will test how passengers use the technology across a mix of high-volume commercial corridors and suburban routes, helping prepare for a future without cash fares.
Speaking with Barbados TODAY on the upcoming transition, AOPT Chairman Roy Raphael announced that the election of operators to take part is nearing completion ahead of staff training and equipment fitting.
“We never had a cashless system before, so we’re going to be introduced as a pilot project,” Raphael said. “Within the next two to three weeks because it’s already designed and everything…. It’s just that we’re just waiting to identify the buses since we have partnerships with these guys.”
About eight vehicles will be fitted with the new hardware for the first trial on routes like River Road, Forde’s Road, Silver Hill, St Peter, Castle and Bathsheba. The trial will collect data from both busy city routes and longer rural trips where commuters face extended wait times.
To overcome previous hurdles regarding drivers using mobile devices while driving, developers have adapted the system to use standalone, onboard validation units.
A cross section of PSV operators who were awarded for their excellent service in the sector (Photo credit: Ricardo Roberts / Barbados TODAY)
“There was a law that you can’t hold a phone whilst driving,” Raphael explained, detailing the revised hardware setup. “So what they did is that they’ve got some equipment that actually goes onto the bus itself. And you can use your card and swipe and they indicate to the driver… the same size of a cell phone…”
One main reason for accelerating the shift to digital payments is the persistent issue of people tampering with cash in traditional fare boxes.
Transport owners have reported instances of passengers damaging paper money to try to double its value, causing losses for operators.
Mark Harewood, Chief Executive Officer responsible for Communications and Public Education, AOPT (Photo credit: Ricardo Roberts / Barbados TODAY)
“We find that some passengers now are cutting the dollars… into two pieces, especially if you’ve got a fare box system. So they take $5, cut it in half, right, and drop it in the fare box,” Raphael revealed. “You roll the $5, drop in the fare box, and when you come … you realise that you got two halves of the $5.”
Besides stopping revenue leakage, the move supports the country’s broader plan to use more digital payments and reduce paperwork, Raphael noted.
To encourage people to use the new system, the project will offer incentives and flexible transfer options. Passengers using digital payments can join rewards schemes and get discounts on multi-leg journeys.
“One of the things that we want to do is attract people who want to use the cash system. For example, the more you ride, the more you win,” Raphael explained. “There’s a section that once you swipe, you can win. And once another vehicle with the same swipe comes on, you can get a free ride; you got two hours within to go.”
Even though details like fees and revenue-sharing are still being worked out, officials believe this trial is a major step toward a fully automated bus system. (RR)
