Variation by method of payment

Some urban passenger transport systems offer cheaper travel for payment by their preferred modalities, such as pre-paid stored-value cards. This reflects the benefit to the system of lower sales administration costs and reduced working capital.

However such policies can adversely impact the poor, who may not be able to afford the sums involved in participation (the card, and its pre-payment) or to commit to specific future travel (irregular pattern, with decisions taken according to funds availability). Where cash alternatives to card payment have been mandated, migration to the former has been very significant.