Berlin's public transportation authority, BVG, plans to switch to card payment for bus rides starting from September 1.
Berlin's public transportation company, BVG, has introduced a significant change to city life, as buses will now accept card payments starting from September 1. This decision follows a similar step taken in London a decade ago.
Previously, Berlin buses only accepted cash payments. However, with the advent of technology, passengers can now use credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay to purchase tickets. Tickets can also be purchased beforehand on a machine or via the BVG app for those without a season ticket.
This change is a notable exception to common features of city life in Berlin, such as the inability to pay by card. It is important to note that this decision does not affect the ability to smoke indoors in other parts of the city, nor does it influence late closing times.
The BVG has stated that each bus sells on average only three tickets per day, and 99% of passengers board with a valid ticket. Despite this, the move towards a cashless system on Berlin buses has drawn criticism from the AfD, who see it as "a further step towards the complete abolition of cash".
However, the BVG has not mentioned any plans to address the concerns raised by the AfD about the abolition of cash. Furthermore, the company has not specified how they will handle situations where passengers are unable to pay by card.
Introducing card payments on buses may face issues such as technical reliability of on-board card payment systems, potential delays in boarding times due to payment processing, accessibility concerns for passengers without cards or smartphones, and initial user adaptation and possible language barriers with new payment interfaces.
Though no specific criticisms for Berlin's BVG card payment adoption were found in the current sources, user reviews of Berlin's public transport-related cards (e.g., Berlin Welcome Card) mention some difficulties such as language barriers and limited staff familiarity with cards, which could be analogous challenges when new payment systems are rolled out.
It is unclear if this change will be extended to other forms of public transportation in Berlin, or if it is a trend that is beginning to occur in other cities. The BVG has not specified any specific reason for this decision, other than improving the efficiency of ticket sales.
In summary, Berlin's BVG has introduced card payments on buses, enabling a cashless option for passengers. Explicit public challenges or criticisms remain undocumented in the available materials.
The move towards a cashless system on Berlin buses, facilitated by technology, includes options such as credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, marking a departure from the previous reliance on cash only. However, concerns have been raised by the AfD regarding the potential complete abolition of cash, and the BVG has yet to address these issues or specify a plan for handling situations where passengers are unable to pay by card.
