The easyrider Citycard, (known formally as EasyRider and locally as RealRider), is a contactless
smartcard
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card) is a physical electronic authentication device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) c ...
introduced in 2000 in
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...
, England, for use on
Services. It was originally named 'BusCard'. The name ''EasyRider'' was first used by
NCT in 1981 for a pre-paid, paper-based system that was carried and used with a photo-identity card. In September 2009 the card was relaunched as 'easyrider Citycard'; it merged easyrider and Citycard into one card.
Background
The Easyrider card is a
contactless smartcard
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card) is a physical electronic authentication device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) c ...
. Travellers wave the card past the green readers on Nottingham City Transport buses or touch the card onto the green readers at
tram stops
A tram stop, tram station, streetcar stop, or light rail station is a place designated for a tram, streetcar, or light rail vehicle to stop so passengers can board or alight it. Generally, tram stops share most characteristics of bus stops, ...
.
Cards
There are four different kinds of easyrider cards; easyrider Everyday, easyrider Anyday, and their respective 'further' versions for use on South Notts 1 to Loughborough and Pathfinder 100 to Southwell, as well as other services that extend beyond the City Zone into the Outer Area.
easyrider Everyday
Blue card, can be purchased in blocks from 7 days up to 1 year. Activated for all NCT buses in that period of time. The card carries a photograph of the holder.
easyrider Anyday
Easyrider Anyday can be purchased for 5, 10, 20 or 100 days. However, it is activated only on the days it is used and so is useful for those who travel regularly but not on consecutive days.
Easyrider Citycard Anytime Adult
, retrieved 27 August 2012.
easyrider Purse
Like an electronic purse, ordinary tickets can be bought at a reduced price using credit stored on it.
Citycard Senior
Allows over 60s to travel free within the county.
Citycard Mobility/Mobility+
Allows the disabled to travel free within the county.
Student Cards
Students of the Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as a new university in 1992, although its roots go back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design, w ...
can also use their university ID cards on Nottingham City Transport and NET
Net or net may refer to:
Mathematics and physics
* Net (mathematics), a filter-like topological generalization of a sequence
* Net, a linear system of divisors of dimension 2
* Net (polyhedron), an arrangement of polygons that can be folded up ...
, activated in the University at Chaucer Building (City Site) or George Eliot Building (Clifton Campus) at discounted rates. They can also be topped up at the NCT Travel Centre in the usual way.
Students of the University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...
are able to use their University Cards for travel. They can top up their cards in the Student's Union travel centre.
Milestones
* First contactless smartcard in the UK is launched in Nottingham, called BusCard (September 2000)
* BusCard renamed EasyRider City (March 2004)
* Tram services commence, and EasyRider City smartcards are accepted, although conductors are unable to validate them (March 2004)
* EasyRider Child launched (August 2004)
* EasyRider Anytime launched (September 2004)
* EasyRider Child renamed EasyRider <16 (September 2005)
* Tram conductors begin reading cards (September 2005)
* Trent Barton
Trentbarton operates both local and regional bus services in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the Wellglade Group.
History
In October 1913, Trent Motor Traction Company was found ...
announce contactless smartcard, called 'ToTo' (February 2006)
* Citycard Senior/Mobility/Mobility+ revealed (Mid 2007)
* Trent Barton
Trentbarton operates both local and regional bus services in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the Wellglade Group.
History
In October 1913, Trent Motor Traction Company was found ...
reveal contactless smartcard, called 'Mango' (Late 2007)
* EasyRider <16 extended to 18 years of age, now called EasyRider <18 (March 2008)
* EasyRider Anytime <18 launched (August 2008)
* easyrider Citycard family launched (September 2009)
Competition
In late 2007, Trent Barton
Trentbarton operates both local and regional bus services in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the Wellglade Group.
History
In October 1913, Trent Motor Traction Company was found ...
, a neighbouring bus operator in Greater Nottingham
The Nottingham Built-up Area (BUA), Nottingham Urban Area, or Greater Nottingham is an area of land defined by the Office for National Statistics as which is built upon, with nearby areas linked if within 200 metres - see the List of urban ...
, revealed their contactless smartcard system, Mango.
See also
*List of smart cards
The following tables list smart cards used for public transport and other electronic purse applications.
File:SingapourMetroCard.jpg, Singapore EZ-Link add value machine
File:SL-Access card.jpg, Access card that is used for public transport in G ...
References
{{reflist
Contactless smart cards
Transport in Nottinghamshire
Fare collection systems in the United Kingdom