Some Useful Tips for Your E-Transport Card
School children are probably the most receptive recipients of the recent e-Transport initiative by Government.
Primary school students eagerly walked into a bus swiping their cards and taking their receipts.
Perhaps it’s the interaction with technology and not having to wait to get change from the bus driver that seem to a winner for school children. Yesterday a KR Latchan bus, which serves the NasaliNausori route, allowed students whose blue e-Transport cards have not been topped up.
In fact, a red light was flashing from the monitor when the card was scanned which meant the card had no money or was not topped up.
The bus driver was quick to motion the smiling students to take their seats. At the Nausori Bus Stand, Ministry of Education officers were on hand to monitor the movement of students.
They were to ensure that students were not turned down when boarding school buses.
For public transport users, here are some tips to keep in mind: Do not lose your card.
You cannot travel without it.
For students, it is advisable to have it on a lanyard and hang it around their neck for safe keeping.
They can easily pull out the e-Transport card before they board a bus.
Ensure that your card is topped up and sufficient to last the bus journey you’re taking.
This requires good planning and budgeting for parents and guardians. (There are over 1000 top-up outlets around the country where you can top up your card. You can also dial *134# to find out the agent nearest to you.)
Inform the driver of your destination. Don’t assume that he knows where you want to disembark. This will ensure that you’re correctly charged.
Swipe your card slowly over the console. It will ensure that the machine reads your card and is able to produce your receipt.
For any complaints regarding the e-Transport card, customer service agents at Vodafone are ready to assist. A toll-free number is expected to be announced today.
If you have been incorrectly charged, please contact the bus company. They are bound by law to reimburse you.
Let’s give this e-Transport initiative a try. In the meantime, enjoy your bus ride.