New Visa survey
finds digital payments are reshaping public transit experiences and
expectations
In cities across the globe, people are venturing out again
after a more than two-year hiatus. Public transit has always been a vital part
of how people get to work or school, run errands, and travel to leisure
activities. But the pandemic has pushed many riders to challenge the status quo
when it comes to how they pay their fares.
The speed, security, and ease of digital payments have
helped shift global consumers’ payment preferences. Visa’s second Future of
Urban Mobility Survey found that 91 percent of those surveyed either strongly
or somewhat expect contactless payment options to be available on public
transit. Nearly half (45 percent) of respondents prefer to pay for transit
using contactless payments.1
Among employed riders, 62 percent said they take public
transit at least three times a week, and 28 percent ride five times a week or
more. 1 Just under half (42 percent) of those surveyed plan to use
transit more often over the next 12 months. 1 As ridership continues
to ramp up, it will be important that paying to ride is secure and seamless.
Including more riders with a more dynamic fare experience
Payment options such as fare-capping represent an important
opportunity for transit operators to serve as many riders as possible. Fare capping limits how much a
rider pays for their total rides in a day, week, or month, eliminating the
need to tie up funds on a monthly pass or transit-dedicated card. Among survey respondents,
61 percent said that capped fares would encourage them to take public transit
more often than a non-fare capped system. 1
43 percent of riders rank faster journey times as a top
motivator that would encourage them to use transit more often. 1 Fare
capping can help speed up the boarding process by alleviating confusion over
how to pay for newer riders.
Keeping it sustainable
Why do riders prefer public transit? Of those surveyed, 88
percent said that sustainability and the environment were a factor in how often
they decide to travel by transit, and it was the top reason for more than one
in three riders (34 percent). 1
Improving the global transit experience
Open transit systems help city residents sustain their
livelihoods, connect to services and pursue activities that create a vibrant
city life. Visa supports global transit operators to deliver digital tools to
draw in more passengers and improve the overall experience. Visa and our
transit partners have recently rolled out new projects worldwide, from Thailand
to Japan to Mexico and beyond, to enable riders to simply tap their contactless
credit, debit, prepaid card, or payment-enabled device, without needing to
purchase or load a separate transit card or handle cash while boarding.
To learn more about Visa’s global urban mobility
initiatives, please visit Visa’s Global Urban Mobility page.
