16 May 2011
Smartcards would significantly increase public transport use in Scotland
Letter
published in The Herald today in response to
story carried in Friday's Herald. The Herald took a welcome pro-smartcard line in its
editorial on Friday.
Dear Sir
Your report that an all-Scotland smartcard ticket may not now be available until 2018 -- or later -- demonstrates the urgent need for clear commitment on the part of the Scottish Government ('Smartcards delayed for seven years', 13 May).
London's Oystercard has been fantastically successful, and international experience shows that if people hold public transport passes then they are much more likely to continue using public transport. We believe that this is one single measure which has the potential to significantly increase public transport use in Scotland.
Transport operators in Scotland already have experience of participating in an extensive multi-modal ticket scheme: SPT's Zonecard‚ as well as the national concessionary travel scheme. Smartcard technology can give an accurate picture of travel, and reward operators accordingly.
With Smartcard readers already on every bus in Scotland, the next stage is a smart version of Strathclyde's Zonecard but we would like to see a Smartcard available for everyone in Scotland, at the earliest possible date. However, this will only happen with clear political and financial support at the highest level.
Yours faithfully
Calum McCallum
Board member, Transform Scotland