Bristol could get Oyster Card within a year

“This news was of Bristol getting an Oyster travel card "within a year" is from over 3 years ago. And still we don't have these cards! *sigh*”

“I quite like the idea as I'm fed up of having to find change for the bus, and waiting forever for passengers to get on. The key thing is the price though, I currently don't buy a first prepayment card as they're still a rip off if a few South Glos/UWE buses show up with their £1.30/£1.50 fare. Why can these companies run much better services for better price when first cant?! If a flat rate fare for any bus in the city was £1.50 I'd sign up for anything. Its also so much cheaper to run a car it makes a mockery of the 'service' first provides”

“Having seen these types of cards operating in various other cities in the UK, I think it would be a great idea.
The costs of the scheme could easily be offset by the reduction in costs of running cashless buses, along with the reduced waiting times at bus stops, and costs of handling so much money.

I do agree with the comment by Greg, Bristol should use the same card as London, so that the schemes are compatible, rather than needing separate cards for different cities in the UK.”

“First's own smart card system, with their own money? Could be installed quickly. But how would that bring down the fares? And its only for their own buses.
Or a public funded scheme? That would need to be ITSO compliant (the national spec), have to accept the national (ENCTS) bus passes, need the formation of an Integrated Transport Authority (at least 3 LAs), need contracted services (rather than fully privately run) - that is what central govt wants, but would take rather longer than 12 months: needs funding, then procurement process, then installation and software development...”

“to car owner .graham on radio bristol is right if you go to london for day and you do not have a oyster card you buy a ticket from machines by the bus stops and it cost £2 adult or child that is a flat fare for 1 stop or whole route”

“No one's mentioned the fact that Wessex Connect already have capabilities for smart cards using their current ticketing system, and that UWE introduced smart cards in January this year, as far as I'm aware, there has been no problems with this service. Maybe it's just time First upgraded their systems.”

“Some info on the scheme in cardiff if anyone is interested..

Firstly, it's very different here, as Cardiff Bus operate, and what profits they make are fed back into the company, and they are wholly owned by Cardiff council.

Secondly, the fares are cheaper £3 all day travel across the entire Cardiff region. Single fares for shorter distances have gone up, to maintain this headline £3 figure.

Thirdly, the main bus station is directly adjacent the main train station which makes an integrated transport system far easier.

Fourthly, Cardiff Bus operates a correct change policy. The drivers do not have access to change. It is simpler, and far far quicker. It's very noticeable that buses move around the city quicker because of this, and therefore can probably justify more stops. If you don't have the correct change, you can take a receipt to bus offices and claim it back.

Regarding the oyster Card. I understand we are getting this this summer as part of a raft of public transport and cycle improvements. Apparently, the cards will be pre-paid, so presumably £5, 10, £20, £50 etc, and initially will not be able to be topped up (unlike oyster cards). They will also not be applicable on the urban rail network (again, unlike oyster cards) but expect Arriva Trains Wales to cotton on fairly soon.

Bristol deserves a better bus service. The difference to me is noticeable, both in service, fleet, and cost.

Keep the pressure up!”

“I think it's a great idea, making it compatible with other cities would be good too. The amount of times drivers run out of change as the usual fools come on with £10 and £20 notes for a £1.80 journey. It is cheaper to use Oyster than cashin London too isnt it? You just gotta keep an eye on your credit! But I just don't see this happening. And for some Londoner to say it's too complicated for us Bristolians, well push off mate! wer enot behind on anything thanks!”

“So lets get this straight shall we - the managing director of First group said, over a year ago, that smart cards are a good idea. 14 months later the council scrape together 20k (not enough to keep a councillor in expenses for a year) for a study and hey presto we 'might' have a system in place 'within a year' - Whats that I can smell in the air......”

“¿You would get 20 to 30 people on the bus in 20 or 30 seconds¿ what are they all running? If and when this superb system comes in who will be paying for it to be fitted to all the buses, not First I hope as that will make a big dent in the profits. I heard the awful ¿phone in¿ on Radio Bristol yesterday and someone called Graham who hosts it made the remarkable statement that the Oyster system will reduce the cost of bus fares as in London a fare costing £1 with Oyster costs £2 with cash; can anybody explain this idiotic statement?. Thanks by the way to the council for spending £20,000 on a feasibility study, that sounds like value for money.”