In Lviv, cashless fare payment has started on all city routes. From now on buses, trams and trolleybuses have uniform fares, and passengers can pay with a LeoKart transport card, a bank card or an NFC device.
It is also possible to pay in cash with the driver, however, this method of payment is the most expensive. Beneficiaries, with the exception of combatants, and students can travel free of charge on the basis of the corresponding LeoCards. Students can travel on all types of transport for half price if they have student LeoKarts. Control has also started working on all routes.
Oleh Zabarilo, director of the department of urban mobility and street infrastructure of the LMR, noted that the automated fare payment system is working correctly in general. During the day, minor equipment malfunctions were recorded in 6 vehicles, they were removed from flights and replaced with spare ones.
“We have been working at all depots since 5:30 a.m., communicating with drivers, checking whether there is proper information in the transport salons, colleagues from transport management monitor the situation directly on the routes. Minor equipment malfunctions were recorded, due to which we had to remove 6 vehicles from the flights to adjust the operation of the equipment. But, in general, the first data show that the system works correctly, funds are accounted for when paying in cash. As for the funds that will be charged when paying with bank cards, these data will be available tomorrow. Because the system works according to the principle of deferred authorization,” Oleg Zabarilo said.
Mykola Vlasyuk, the head of the “Lvivavtodor” LKP, noted that in this situation, the carriers worked perfectly and promptly released reserve vehicles on the line, instead of those that left the routes.
Important: if the equipment in the transport does not work, the driver must complete the flight, drop off the passengers at the final stop and leave the flight to repair the equipment. And the carrier must release a reserve vehicle on the line. Otherwise, the carrier risks receiving a fine. “We will monitor it because there is a dispatching system and we can see if the equipment is working. And we have the ability to fine carriers for shoddy work. About 100-120 thousand hryvnia fines are imposed on carriers every month for low-quality work,” Oleg Zabarilo noted.
It should be noted that the partner of the information campaign for the introduction and popularization of the cashless payment system in Lviv public transport is the international payment technology company Visa. Visa’s senior director of digital solutions in the region of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, Oleksandr Stelmakh, noted that the launch of a cashless payment system, especially in times of war, is a great achievement. But he notes that from now on it is more convenient not only for city residents, but also for tourists. “I am responsible not only for Ukraine, but also for 16 other countries where we develop digital services. And partners from other countries are surprised that even during the war, such innovative solutions are implemented in Ukraine. I am personally proud of it.
We pay a lot of attention to the functionality of contactless payment in public transport, it is a priority for us. Every year we do research in different countries, and the data in 2023 showed that 94% of passengers using public transport would like to be able to pay contactless.
Cashless payment is very important also considering that Lviv is a tourist city. Even at this time there are many tourists here. For them, such payment is understandable and usual. They do not need to withdraw cash from an ATM, exchange currency, but simply attach the card to the validator and pay in transport,” said Oleksandr Stelmakh.
As Oleg Zabarilo emphasized, after the stage of the cashless payment system, the rest of the functionality, which includes the e-ticket, is planned to be finalized within six months. “We will finalize the rest of the functionality in order to launch season tickets, transfers, and payment for transport work to all carriers within half a year,” Oleg Zabarylo said.
We remind passengers about the main changes that have come into effect in public transport in Lviv from today.
Yes, concession category passengers and schoolchildren have the opportunity to use free travel, and students a 50% discount on all transport – only if they have a personalized transport LeoKart. Licenses for discounted travel are no longer valid. An exception was made only for participants in hostilities and persons with disabilities due to participation in hostilities. They can make free trips in transport on the basis of their certificates even after December 11.
“According to the norms of the law concerning the introduction of an automated system of fare payment in public transport, now the right to discounted travel is granted only to owners of personalized LeoKarts. Also, the beneficiary must be approved. The only exception is the participants in hostilities, who will be able to use public transport free of charge on the basis of relevant certificates.