No cash on buses from mid-2024

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Christchurch public transport users will not be able to use cash on city buses and ferries from mid next year.

The move has prompted concerns about the impact on those who prefer to use cash, especially the elderly and homeless. The proposal also defies a survey that found three-quarters of public transport users believe cash is important.

However, ECan staff say cash handling is consistently raised by drivers, operators and unions as an issue for driver safety and wellbeing, and that it makes sense to take advantage of the roll-out of a new nationwide public transport card to rid the system of cash. The National Ticketing Solution will be introduced in Canterbury in mid-2024.

What do you think of our city's buses and ferries going cashless? Read reporter Keiller MacDuff's full story here (subscription required) and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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