Do UK Buses Take Cash: A Comprehensive Guide
As of recent updates, many bus services in the UK have shifted away from accepting cash payments. This change was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in contactless payments and mobile ticketing options. However, some local services and regions may still accept cash. It is best to check with the specific bus operator for their current payment policies.
General Acceptance of Cash in UK Bus Services
Many UK buses accept cash for on-board ticket sales. However, a notable exception is the famous red TfL-operated buses operating in Greater London. No tickets are sold on any TfL London buses. Passengers travel on these buses using one of the numerous TfL-issued Oyster cards, a contactless payment card, or senior bus passes issued by English councils.
Even so, cash sales represent a trivial proportion of bus fares revenue, but they add a disproportionate amount of time to loading passengers. Cash handling and the time taken to issue a paper ticket, along with the added expense of a cash storage machine and the resources needed to account for the day's cash, present challenges. Meanwhile, passengers with tickets and passes loaded onto cards or mobile phone apps are boarded in a fraction of the time.
Changes in Bus Revenue and Operations
Across England outside London, bus companies now receive almost all their revenue from grants, prepayment tickets, season tickets, and revenue divided from multi-operator area passes. On-board cash sales are negligible. These changes present a case for scrapping all remaining on-board driver cash ticket sales.
Furthermore, it has been noted that while many UK buses do accept cash, plastic is preferred. Even small operators in the UK, known as "operators," typically find it challenging to get contracts to operate any routes that are subsidized by the Local Authority if they want to impose a "cash-only" fare structure. Such routes are costly and not financially economical but are necessary to satisfy local needs. Often, small operators may operate only evening or weekend routes, while the larger companies are happy to operate during the working week where they can show a profit.
London Buses: A Subset of UK Buses
London buses, being a small subset of UK buses, have unique payment systems due to the London Transport Authority (TfL). The TfL-operated buses in Greater London do not sell tickets on board; passengers use Oyster cards, contactless payment cards, or senior bus passes instead.
Driver and Fare Preferences
Our buses do take cash, but the drivers will not accept notes of more than ￡10. Many bus companies, especially the smaller ones, prefer to operate without cash to reduce handling time and the cost of managing cash. They often offer discounts for regular travelers on certain routes, such as the Go Card, which provides a mass purchase discount for regular users. Debit cards, contactless payment methods, and even Apple Pay are widely accepted.
The Big Boys, or larger bus companies, often prefer a "cashless" system to reduce the opportunity for driver leakage, speed up boarding times, and make the service more attractive to passengers. Cashless operations also reduce the overall cost of handling money.
Conclusion
In summary, while many UK buses do accept cash, it is becoming less common, especially in London. Most operators prefer a cashless system for efficiency and cost reduction. However, if you plan to travel on a bus in the UK, it is always a good idea to check with the specific bus operator to ensure you have the right means of payment.