London buses going cashless

This item appears on page 4 of the April 2014 issue.

In London, plans are underway to eliminate, by summer 2014, the option of paying bus fares in cash.

The new system will require all bus passengers to pay using an Oyster card, which can be purchased in Tube stations, London travel information centers, bus stations and rail stations. A full list of locations is available on the Transport for London website. 

Visitor Oyster cards, which may be reloaded with any amount of money at ticket machines, may also be purchased in advance from Visit Britain.

As opposed to the cash fare of £2.40 (near $3.30), a trip using an Oyster card on buses and trams costs £1.45. Unlimited trips on buses for one day cost £4.40, and a 7-day pass costs £20.20.