Change for Cash Payments - Revision history

Edasmalchi: add wikilinks and references

2020-04-30T01:18:05Z

add wikilinks and references

Edasmalchi at 01:10, 30 April 2020

2020-04-30T01:10:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:10, 30 April 2020
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	* Transit agencies can also offer to sell or reload farecards on the transit vehicle, avoiding the overpayment issue but potentially increasing dwell time.		* Transit agencies can also offer to sell or reload farecards on the transit vehicle, avoiding the overpayment issue but potentially increasing dwell time.
	* Shifting to a proof-of-payment system, with all fares and passes sold outside the transit vehicle, can avoid the change concern assuming fare machines have the capacity to make change. This can also speed service and reduce dwell time by enabling all-door boarding, a common strategy for Bus Rapid Transit systems (link).		* Shifting to a proof-of-payment system, with all fares and passes sold outside the transit vehicle, can avoid the change concern assuming fare machines have the capacity to make change. This can also speed service and reduce dwell time by enabling all-door boarding, a common strategy for Bus Rapid Transit systems (link).

			== References ==

			<references />

Edasmalchi: citation test

2020-04-30T01:09:52Z

citation test

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:09, 30 April 2020
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	== History ==		== History ==

	Historically, offering change was far more common. In New York, bus operators gave change for cash payments until 1969. The practice was ended primarily over safety and security concerns, since bus robberies were sharply increasing at the time (~~cite~~). Officials cited shorter dwell times and reduced operator distraction as secondary benefits ~~(cite)~~.		Historically, offering change was far more common. In New York, bus operators gave change for cash payments until 1969. The practice was ended primarily over safety and security concerns, since bus robberies were sharply increasing at the time<ref name=":0">Sulzberger, A. G. (2009, August 31). When Bus Drivers Stopped Giving Change. ''City Room''. <nowiki>https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/when-bus-drivers-stopped-giving-change/</nowiki></ref>. Officials cited shorter dwell times and reduced operator distraction as secondary benefits<ref name=":0" />.

	Research has found a trade-off between the efficiency enabled by only accepting exact fares and “good customer relations” facilitated by offering change.		Research has found a trade-off between the efficiency enabled by only accepting exact fares and “good customer relations” facilitated by offering change.

Edasmalchi: working draft

2020-04-30T01:08:07Z

working draft

New page

== Introduction ==

Offering change can enhance rider convenience and the usability of the transit system. However, it also entails significant operational challenges such as increased dwell times, as well as safety and security concerns if operators have access to cash. For these reasons, most major American transit systems accept exact cash fare only upon boarding.

== History ==

Historically, offering change was far more common. In New York, bus operators gave change for cash payments until 1969. The practice was ended primarily over safety and security concerns, since bus robberies were sharply increasing at the time (cite). Officials cited shorter dwell times and reduced operator distraction as secondary benefits (cite).

Research has found a trade-off between the efficiency enabled by only accepting exact fares and “good customer relations” facilitated by offering change.

== Today’s Fare Payment Landscape ==

While almost all transit agencies continue to accept cash in some form, it is now just one of a variety of fare payment options. Today’s transit rider may pay using a NFC farecard, a NFC credit card in an open system, or a mobile ticketing app (links). Riders using these methods of payment do not need to worry about the availability of change on the transit vehicle, but may be concerned with the ease of loading cash onto the farecard.

=== So Why Consider Offering Change? ===

Many riders do still pay with cash. In a 2019 survey, 30% of LA Metro bus riders paid cash on the bus (cite).

==== When Offering Change Might Be Especially Helpful: ====

* To enhance convienience for occasional riders who may not have a farecard or know the exact fare.
* To attract tourists, especially in regions without a mobile payment or open farecard option.

== How to Offer Change ==

Transit agencies may not want to offer actual cash change to riders, and understandably so. Still, various technologies exist to offer some sort of change without the cash handling challenge.

* Fareboxes can print change cards, usable for future rides or potentially exchangeable for cash at a central location.
* Transit agencies can also offer to sell or reload farecards on the transit vehicle, avoiding the overpayment issue but potentially increasing dwell time.
* Shifting to a proof-of-payment system, with all fares and passes sold outside the transit vehicle, can avoid the change concern assuming fare machines have the capacity to make change. This can also speed service and reduce dwell time by enabling all-door boarding, a common strategy for Bus Rapid Transit systems (link).

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:18, 30 April 2020
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	Historically, offering change was far more common. In New York, bus operators gave change for cash payments until 1969. The practice was ended primarily over safety and security concerns, since bus robberies were sharply increasing at the time<ref name=":0">Sulzberger, A. G. (2009, August 31). When Bus Drivers Stopped Giving Change. ''City Room''. <nowiki>https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/when-bus-drivers-stopped-giving-change/</nowiki></ref>. Officials cited shorter dwell times and reduced operator distraction as secondary benefits<ref name=":0" />.		Historically, offering change was far more common. In New York, bus operators gave change for cash payments until 1969. The practice was ended primarily over safety and security concerns, since bus robberies were sharply increasing at the time<ref name=":0">Sulzberger, A. G. (2009, August 31). When Bus Drivers Stopped Giving Change. ''City Room''. <nowiki>https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/when-bus-drivers-stopped-giving-change/</nowiki></ref>. Officials cited shorter dwell times and reduced operator distraction as secondary benefits<ref name=":0" />.

	Research has found a trade-off between the efficiency enabled by only accepting exact fares and “good customer relations” facilitated by offering change.		Research has found a trade-off between the efficiency enabled by only accepting exact fares and “good customer relations” facilitated by offering change<ref>Vandebona, U. (1985). The Effects of Fare-Collection Strategies on Transit Level of Service. ''Transportation Research Record'', 9. http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1036/1036-011.pdf</ref>.

	== Today’s Fare Payment Landscape ==		== Today’s Fare Payment Landscape ==

	While almost all transit agencies continue to accept cash in some form, it is now just one of a variety of fare payment options. Today’s transit rider may pay using a ~~NFC~~ farecard, a NFC credit card in an open system, or a mobile ticketing app ~~(links)~~. Riders using these methods of payment do not need to worry about the availability of change on the transit vehicle, but may be concerned with the ease of loading cash onto the farecard.		While almost all transit agencies continue to accept cash in some form, it is now just one of a variety of fare payment options. Today’s transit rider may pay using a farecard, a [[Near field communications\|near-field communications]] (NFC) enabled credit card in an open system, or a [[mobile ticketing]] app. Riders using these methods of payment do not need to worry about the availability of change on the transit vehicle, but may be concerned with the ease of loading cash onto the farecard.

	=== So Why Consider Offering Change? ===		=== So Why Consider Offering Change? ===

	Many riders do still pay with cash. In a 2019 survey, 30% of LA Metro bus riders paid cash on the bus (~~cite~~).		Many riders do still pay with cash. In a 2019 survey, 30% of LA Metro bus riders paid cash on the bus<ref>Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, (2019). On-Board Customer Satisfaction Survey http://media.metro.net/projects_studies/research/images/infographics/bus_results_fall_2019.pdf</ref>.

	==== When Offering Change Might Be Especially Helpful: ====		==== When Offering Change Might Be Especially Helpful: ====
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	* Fareboxes can print change cards, usable for future rides or potentially exchangeable for cash at a central location.		* Fareboxes can print change cards, usable for future rides or potentially exchangeable for cash at a central location.
	* Transit agencies can also offer to sell or reload farecards on the transit vehicle, avoiding the overpayment issue but potentially increasing dwell time.		* Transit agencies can also offer to sell or reload farecards on the transit vehicle, avoiding the overpayment issue but potentially increasing dwell time.
	* Shifting to a proof-of-payment system, with all fares and passes sold outside the transit vehicle, can avoid the change concern assuming fare machines have the capacity to make change. This can also speed service and reduce dwell time by enabling all-door boarding, a common strategy for ~~Bus Rapid Transit systems~~ (~~link~~).		* Shifting to a proof-of-payment system, with all fares and passes sold outside the transit vehicle, can avoid the change concern assuming fare machines have the capacity to make change. This can also speed service and reduce dwell time by enabling all-door boarding, a common strategy for [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT) systems.

	== References ==		== References ==

	<references />		<references />