- EasyRider
The EasyRider card, known locally as RealRider, is a contactless
smartcard introduced in2000 inNottingham , England, for use onNottingham City Transport Services. It was originally named 'BusCard'. The name "EasyRider" was first used by NCT in 1981 for a pre-paid, paper-based system that was carried and used with a photo-identity card.Background
The Easyrider card is a contactless
smartcard . Travellers wave the card past the red readers on Nottingham City Transport buses, or hand it to conductors on Trams.Cards
There are five different kinds of EasyRider cards, EasyRider City, EasyRider Anytime, EasyRider Farecard, EasyRider <18, and EasyRider Anytime <18.
EasyRider City
Green card, can be purchased in blocks from 7 days up to 1 year. Activated for all buses and trams in that period of time.
EasyRider Anytime/Citycard Adult
Easyrider Anytime can be purchased for 3, 5, 10, 20 or 100 days. However, it is only activated on the days it is used, and is therefore useful for those who travel regularly, but not on consecutive days.
EasyRider Farecard
Like an electronic purse, ordinary tickets can be bought at a reduced price using credit stored on it.
EasyRider <18
EasyRider City equivalent for under 18's.
EasyRider Anytime <18/Citycard 360
EasyRider Anytime equivalent for under 18's.
Citycard Senior
Allows over 60s to travel free within the county.
Citycard Mobility/Mobility+
Allows the disabled to travel free within the county.
tudent Cards
Students of the
Nottingham Trent University can also use their university ID cards on Nottingham City Transport and NET, these are activated in the university at discounted rates. They can also be topped up at the NCT Travel Centre in the usual way at full price.Students of the
University of Nottingham are now able to use their University Cards for travel. They can top-up their cards in the Student's Union travel centre.Milestones
* First contactless smartcard in the UK is launched in Nottingham, called BusCard (September 2000)
* BusCard renamed EasyRider City (March 2004)
* Tram services commence, and EasyRider City smartcards are accepted, although conductors are unable to validate them (March 2004)
* EasyRider Child launched (August 2004)
* EasyRider Anytime launched (September 2004)
* EasyRider Child renamed EasyRider <16 (September 2005)
* Tram conductors begin reading cards (September 2005)
*Trent Barton announce contactless smartcard, called 'ToTo' (February 2006)
* Citycard Senior/Mobility/Mobility+ revealed (Mid 2007)
*Trent Barton reveal contactless smartcard, called 'Mango' (Late 2007)
* EasyRider <16 extended to 18 years of age, now called EasyRider <18 (March 2008)
* EasyRider Anytime <18 launched (August 2008)Competition
In February 2006,
trent barton , a competing bus operator inGreater Nottingham announced a competing contactless smartcard system,ToTo (Touch-on Touch-off). While the ToTo system will be more advanced, the Easyrider card is already established and has the backing ofNottingham Express Transit .In late 2007,
trent barton , a competing bus operator inGreater Nottingham revealed a competing contactless smartcard system, Mango. While the Mango system is more advanced, the Easyrider card is already established and has the backing ofNottingham Express Transit .See also
*
Mass surveillance
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