Beginning July 12, Big Blue Bus (BBB) will transition exclusively to contactless fare payments as part of a systemwide pilot program.
During the pilot period, cash and tokens will no longer be accepted on board. Instead, customers will be asked to pay for their trip using a TAP card or mobile ticket.
The pilot program will study the effectiveness of contactless payments, including making buses safer for both customers and operators, faster boarding times and offering more convenient and economical ways for customers to pay their fare.
TAP eliminates the burden of carrying exact change, by offering a reusable card that works as a transit pass. TAP cards are smart and secure and can be loaded with a BBB pass or Stored Value (valid on any of the 26 TAP-participating transit agencies) for seamless travel throughout the Westside and L.A. County.
Mobile tickets can be purchased through Transit (BBB's official app), Token Transit and other third-party apps, which are available for iOS and Android smartphones. BBB Single Rides and passes can be purchased in the Transit app for immediate use or stored for future trips.
In response to the start of the pilot program, Blue: The Transit Store has increased its operating hours and is now open Monday through Thursday and every other Friday from. To help customers decide which contactless option works best for them, BBB encourages scheduling in-person appointments with Transit Store staff online or via phone.
To encourage contactless payments, BBB is offering a free 30-Day pass and discounted Single Rides to customers who pay their fare with a TAP card or mobile ticket. BBB will also maintain its Single Ride discounts for TAP and mobile ticket users during the pilot. Regular customers pay $1 per trip and Senior/Disabled/Medicare customers pay $0.40 per trip.
