Tap on, tap off payments introduced on Brighton & Hove buses

Brighton & Hove Bus Company has introduced ‘tap on, tap off’ to its existing contactless payment system. Adult passengers can use their bank cards or mobile phones on the ticket machine reader when boarding and then tap off on the exit reader when disembarking.

Commercial Director, Nick Hill, said: “We are always looking for ways to make it easier for people to catch the bus and Tap On, Tap Off is a natural part of that. It should also speed up boarding and keep buses moving.” 

There is no registration process and the cost of the journey is automatically calculated and charged to passengers’ bank accounts by the end of the day of travel. Passengers can also track their journeys and fares history using a dedicated contactless customer portal. 

The ticket price is automatically capped at the cost of a bus day ticket, regardless of how many Brighton & Hove Buses services a passenger uses. This ensures passengers will not pay more than the cost of either a citySAVER or networkSAVER ticket, depending on the area travelled in, as long as the same card or device is used to pay on each bus travelled on.

This also applies to Metrobus services in Sussex, Kent and Surrey. If a passenger travels on Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus services on the same day, the cost will be capped at the best value day ticket. 

Hill continued: “This means you get the best value fare without having to ask for it, or even know about it. That is especially good news for visitors and occasional bus users.”