An electronic payment option will be unveiled throughout the province in the coming weeks. (BC Transit)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

transit technology

BC Transit about to roll-out digital payment option

Oct 5, 2023 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO —Traditional payment options will soon have company aboard public transit buses around the province, including on the mid-Island.

BC Transit expects a new contact-less fare payment system Umo (pronounced YOU-moh) to be available this fall around B.C.

The transit operator states reloadable app or physical card options will allow users to buy passes or load cash onto their preferred payment device, which is then tapped to the Umo digital validator aboard buses.

“Say goodbye to counting change and having to pick up tickets or a new pass every month. Reload your Umo payment method again and again or set it up to automatically reload.”

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More information on how Umo works can be found here.

A variety of existing bus passes and cash payment options will continue to be accepted by BC Transit.

At a Umo engagement session on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Oceanside Place in Parksville, transit rider Linda Douglas, 74, believed the new payment option would come in handy for her.

“I think it’s a real advantage, I like not having to carry coins around,” Douglas told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Wayne Kehler, 74, said he favours ways to make riding the bus easier.

“It’s just a nice option, as we age we might need other options to get around and if we can’t drive take the bus.”

Further Umo engagement sessions happen on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.) and Woodgrove Centre (12 p.m. to 2 p.m.).

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