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We’re calling it now: The next big Vancouver accessory will be the Compass wristband.
It’s like a Livestrong bracelet, except it lets you ride the SkyTrain and it doesn’t serve as an uncomfortable reminder of the doping culture in professional cycling.
On Friday, eagle-eyed Redditors spotted an Instagram photo of a TransLink staffer sporting a black wristband with TransLink’s Compass logo, leading to speculation that the Compass card might be on its way out, especially now that Seth Rogen says you
can just tap your Visa.
But don’t expect the Compass card to disappear. TransLink spokesperson Jill Drews confirmed that the transit authority is in the early stages of testing Compass wristbands, but only as a “potential alternative form of payment.”
One imagines many commuters, such as those who hate fumbling for their Compass cards or are prone to losing them between trains, would appreciate an alternative. The wristbands could also prove useful for people with disabilities who might have difficulty using a Compass card.
The wristbands would work the exact same way regular Compass cards do with customers using the wristband to tap in and out at fare gates. The only difference is you can wear them, adding some flair to your outfit with an accessory that screams: “I love public transit.”
Drews added that the testing group is staff only at this time, but that TransLink hopes to have more information for the public in the coming months.
Vancouver is not alone among major cities in testing wearable tech as a payment option for its travellers.
Metro, which operates the
majority of bus and rail service in Los Angeles County, has been testing prototype TAP card wristbands since last year.
Brazil tested a wearable payment band for travellers, RioCard contactless transport wristbands, during the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In London, some commuters have swapped out their transit passes, called Oyster cards, for the bPay band from Barclaycard, a wristband that can be pre-loaded and used
to make fast, secure payments.
Kerv, another London-based company, is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter for a small, waterproof ring that can be used in much the same way.
And this summer, Singapore took things a step further, unveiling a commuter wristband as part of an overhaul of its transport services that did away with the fare gate system entirely. Instead, commuters can wear a longrange
radio-frequency identification (RFID) wristband as they pass a barrier, which flashes green if the passenger has prepaid to travel or red if they haven’t.
The company behind the RFID system is now promoting the technology to other international metro operators.
Expect to see products like the Compass wristband in Vancouver and elsewhere soon.