Contactless 'Tap On, Tap Off' Travel Rolls Out Across East Yorkshire Bus Network

New technology promises quicker boarding, automatic fare capping and simpler journeys for passengers.

Bus passengers across East Yorkshire can now benefit from a streamlined way of paying for their journeys after a new contactless fare system was introduced across the East Yorkshire Buses fleet.

The operator has launched a network-wide Tap On, Tap Off payment system, enabling passengers to board and leave buses using nothing more than a contactless bank card, smartphone or smartwatch.

Rather than selecting a ticket before travelling, customers simply tap their payment device when boarding and again as they leave the bus. The technology then calculates the cheapest fare based on the journeys made throughout the day, ensuring passengers are automatically charged the lowest applicable price.

The rollout has been supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which provided financial assistance through funding received from the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) programme.

The investment forms part of wider efforts to modernise local bus services and encourage greater use of public transport by reducing boarding times and making travel more convenient.

Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Tourism and Planning, welcomed the introduction of the technology.

"We're delighted to have supported a scheme that will make travelling by bus easier and more convenient for passengers. Similar systems have already proved their value in other parts of the country, and it's great to see the same benefits now available across East Yorkshire."

For passengers, the biggest advantage is simplicity. There is no longer any need to decide which ticket to purchase or tell the driver where they intend to travel. The system automatically determines the most cost-effective fare, whether someone makes a single journey or several trips during the course of a day.

East Yorkshire Buses says the technology represents another milestone in improving the customer experience.

Commercial Director Stuart Fillingham said the automatic fare calculation removes uncertainty for passengers while helping make bus travel more attractive.

"Customers can simply travel knowing they'll always receive the best available fare for the journeys they make. We're grateful to East Riding of Yorkshire Council for supporting this investment, which reflects a shared commitment to delivering smarter, more accessible public transport across the region."

The introduction of Tap On, Tap Off follows a growing trend among UK bus operators adopting account-based ticketing systems, bringing regional bus travel closer to the seamless payment experience already familiar to many passengers using London's public transport network.