Not only can citizens of Lethbridge choose from 16 different languages to personalize their electronic farecard, they can also decide how long the electronic fare boxes display messages.
The aptly named Breeze farecards are much like the microchipped debit and credit cards people are using now. Currently the cards can be monitored via telephone and by spring 2012 from the Internet.
The cards can be reloaded limitlessly and come in five different classes: adult, youth, senior, post-secondary and ACESS-A-Ride. Cards can be reloaded at any transit office location.
“Non-reloadable cards won’t be used as much,” says Abby Slovack, Lethbridge Transit supervisor. “Non-reloadable cards will typically be more for day-pass use or are distributed through ride-home-from-work programs.”
Between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31 2012, the card will be free. After Jan. 31 2012, the card will cost $5. The card also has a minimum of $10 that can be loaded on for the first time.
“We need to make decisions for the future and there wasn’t any good statistics on our riders,” says Slovack. “The Breeze card makes things more convenient for our riders and gave us a chance to improve our customer service.”
Riders are instructed to simply tap their new card on the targeted area on the fare box. The proper fee will then be deducted and a message will be displayed. The message will tell riders the pass expiry date, number of remaining rides and e-cash balance.
Paper tickets will no longer be sold as of Nov.30 and they will no longer be accepted after Jan.31. However, people can swap any of their paper tickets free of charge at any transit station, the balance will then be transferred to a reloadable Breeze card.
The City of Lethbridge transit office held a contest to decide on the electronic cards name. The contest was held during the summer and over 400 entries were submitted.
The Breeze, submitted by James Forbes, was chosen. He won a year’s transit pass and an Ipad2.
“There has been a lot of positive response so far, Slovack says. “ACESS-A-Ride passengers can now reload at any sales outlets.”
For more information you can visit the City of Lethbridge website, www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around or phone 403-320-3885.