East Yorkshire Buses has introduced a county-wide tap-on, tap-off contactless payment system across its entire fleet, following a grant award from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The system went live for passengers on 12 July.
What the change means for passengers
The new technology allows customers to use contactless bank cards, smartphones or smartwatches when boarding and exiting buses. Passengers tap on at the carriage entrance against the driver's ticket machine and tap off on a reader by the exit.
- No need to buy a paper ticket from the driver — fares are processed electronically.
- Automatic best-value fare — the system calculates the most economical charge for single trips or multiple journeys made during the same day.
- Quicker boarding and reduced interaction — passengers need not state their destination or ticket type to the driver.
Funding and policy context
The council's financial support came from central government monies allocated under the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan programme. East Riding of Yorkshire Council awarded the grant to help meet the costs of installing the new fare technology across the operator's vehicles.
"I'm extremely pleased our funding has gone towards something that will really benefit local bus passengers by making paying for journeys easier and quicker."
Councillors and transport officials have framed the work as part of efforts to modernise local bus services and improve passenger experience, while aligning with wider national aims to encourage public transport use through simpler and more reliable ticketing.
Practical information for travellers
Passengers should remember to tap both on and off to ensure the correct fare is charged, particularly for shorter journeys. The system is designed to cap fares across multiple journeys in a day so regular users should automatically receive the most cost-effective total charge.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 12 July |
| Payment methods | Contactless bank cards, smartphones, smartwatches |
| Funding source | East Riding Council grant made possible via DfT Bus Service Improvement Plan funding |
The roll-out marks a notable change for local public transport users who are encouraged to adopt contactless payment where possible. Passengers without contactless payment may still need to use alternative ticketing options in line with operator arrangements.
Local residents who rely on buses for daily travel should check East Yorkshire Buses' website or contact their customer services for further details on how the new system will operate on specific routes and any guidance about ticketing for those who do not use contactless payments.
