It is generally accepted that smart ticketing has the potential to deliver real benefits in transport ticketing and the provision of transport services. However, these benefits can be difficult to quantify; they do not always accrue where the costs are incurred, and; crucially, the most significant benefits are dependent on using the technologies to do things differently for example, multi-operator tickets, capped limits, pay as you go, or buy 10 get one free? tickets rather than do the same things in a different way. The adoption of the technology in the UK has been slow and outside London attempts to use smart cards to offer new ticketing products have not so far been successful. This paper explores why and what can be done to address the barriers to uptake and use.
Abstract