General Chat

At least it means ultra cheap travel.

I used busses in London, to get home last night, and there were people that were not aware that you couldn't pay by cash anymore.

I hope they make sure that tourists know all about this


Past experience has shown us that tourists arrive in the UK and are not given essential information .................. such as maximum speed limits on motorways.


Information needed in the case of transit would be that cash is not used, and where to buy the necessary Oystercard or Day Travel Card

I never applied for a coffin dodgers card, because I don't use buses and figured it cost the council quite a bit to issue it and why waste money?

If I needed a bus ride I would happily pay.

Now I will apply, as I certainly do not want to buy credit on an Oyster card etc, "just in case".

We have our own Oyster cards for when we visit our son and partner in London. It automatically tops up with £20 whenever it gets low so we never have to worry about it running out or carrying money.

On the occasion we do get the bus I get to go free with my local pass. Last year when we visited we used buses quite a lot and I never saw one person with cash, so I shouldn't think it is much of a hardship.

Good news if you do not have quite enough on your Oyster to get home.

They will allow you One More Journey, so that people are not stranded.

Bring back the old fashioned clippie :-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNw_Vb5Z5dM

Seems barmy to me, what happens when you get on and find you have mislaid your card? Imagine having your car stolen and then not being able to get home because you don't use buses normally :-(

You do not need to buy a Visitor Oyster card.

If you, your family and friends make semi-regular trips to the capital, you can all use the same cards. They are not person specific.

So if you buy one, and a friend is coming up to town for a few days, they can loan yours, top it up and any station, newsagents or online and return to you when they come home.

I have a friend who lives in Italy and when she comes home for a visit, she has her own Oyster card, which she bought some years ago. All she does is top it up on her first day here.

Other ways to pay - Instead of cash you can use:

An Oyster card with pay as you go credit, Travelcard or Bus & Tram Pass
A Visitor Oyster card
A contactless payment card to pay as you go
A Day Travelcard

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/cash-free-buses?intcmp=17374

Dermot, that's understandable. If travellers usually go on the Tube, their idea of where somewhere is, is based on a stylised map. With several exits from the underground station, it's easy to start off in the wrong direction.

If the buses don't accept a combined train/ travel ticket, I shall be really, really cross!

They have been advertising this by way of a recorded message on all buses for the last month.

Betcha someone gets on and tries to pay!

I must walk along with a #Ask Me# tattooed on my forehead, I am ALWAYS being asked for directions by tourists.

Walking is a good exercise.

What surprised me when those terrible incidents happened in the capital some years ago & travellers were told to 'make their own way' to their destinations, loads did not know which direction to go.

There was a good sale of the A-Z on that day.

From last night cash is no longer accepted on London's buses - passengers will need a prepaid or concessionary ticket, Oyster card or a contactless payment card to travel.

I'm OK as I have my Freedom Pass :-)