EasyRider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The EasyRider card is a contactless smartcard introduced in 2000 in Nottingham, for use on Nottingham City Transport Services. It was originally named 'BusCard'.
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[edit] Background
The Easyrider card is a contactless smartcard. Travellers wave the card past the red readers on Nottingham City Transport buses, or hand it to conductors on Trams.
[edit] Cards
There are four different kinds of EasyRider cards, EasyRider City, EasyRider Anytime, Easyrider Farecard, and Easyrider <16
[edit] EasyRider City
Green card, can be purchased in blocks from 7 days up to 1 year. Activated for all buses and trams in that period of time.
[edit] EasyRider Anytime
Easyrider Anytime can be purchased for 2, 5, 10 or 20 days. However, it is only activated on the days it is used, and is therefore useful for those who travel regularly, but not on consecutive days.
[edit] EasyRider Farecard
Like an electronic purse, ordinary tickets can be bought at a reduced price using credit stored on it.
[edit] EasyRider <16
EasyRider City equivalent for under 16's.
[edit] Student Cards
Students of the Nottingham Trent University can also use their university ID cards on Nottingham City Transport and NET, these are activated in the university at discounted rates. They can also be topped up at the NCT Travel Centre in the usual way at full price.
[edit] Milestones
- First contactless smartcard in the UK is launched in Nottingham, called BusCard (September 2000)
- BusCard renamed EasyRider City (March 2004)
- Tram services commence, and EasyRider City smartcards are accepted, although conductors are unable to validate them (March 2004)
- EasyRider Child launched (August 2004)
- EasyRider Anytime launched (September 2004)
- EasyRider Child renamed EasyRider <16 (September 2005)
- Tram conductors begin reading cards (September 2005)
- Trent Barton announce contactless smartcard, called 'ToTo' (February 2006)
[edit] Competition
In February 2006, trent barton, a competing bus operator in Greater Nottingham announced a competing contactless smartcard system, ToTo (Touch-on Touch-off). While the ToTo system will be more advanced, the Easyrider card is already established and has the backing of Nottingham Express Transit.
