
New bus fare system
Analysis of the different types of bus fare collection systems in the world.
On board payement
This is cheapest infrastructure but slowest at high demand
Off board payment such as in New York City
Fast boarding but needs kiosks and inspectors
Gated systems such as BRT
Very fast boarding but expensive infrastructure
Our system
Passengers enter through any entrance point in bus and pay onboard bus but only when bus is moving, requirement of occasional inspector enforces payment. There is no need for extra infrastructure and AI assisted cameras help inspectors quickly identify people who may be avoiding fares. The cameras do no judge, they only assist. A timestamp camera records the passenger upon entry as well to help resolve disputes.
Advantages and comparisions
Much faster than traditional on-board boarding system where people line one by one and some people struggle paying, holding up the whole bus
No expensive infrastructure required such as in turnstiles
No terminals required outside station such as in New York City off boarding approach. These terminals are also subject to vandalism.
Off board systems can form queues behind terminals which may cause passengers to miss their bus
AI cameras assist inspectors and rapidly allow processing which allows system to be used in busy buses
Driver is not gatekeeper – he can focus on driving
Cons
More expensive than traditional on board bus payment system such as used in London due to requirement of more inspectors but cheaper than the other methods
Fare evasion is higher than in manned turnstile approach or with inspectors on every bus or station
Overall, huge savings in time can be made using this first in the world system for passengers which can allow for substantial profit.
