Originally Posted by
bobbytables
The use of contactless/RFID tech alone isn’t that big a deal really. It’s the use of the existing (visa/mc/amex/etc) payment system that makes London streets ahead. Why should I have to bother getting yet another card just to ride public transport?
I believe you can register on the Transport for London website with the payment card you want to use and then you can buy a custom “travelcard” - not actually a card but just associated to your payment card. I’m usually there for a bit longer so I don’t bother and it works out all the relevant fare caps automatically.
In a lot of cases (at least in the US wherever it's supported), it's seemingly discouraged to use your credit/debit card that way even if you're just visiting (only allowing single rides to be paid through it, etc.)--hence the need for a separate card. That's slowly getting better, however.
Speaking of which, San Diego's MTS is my local transit system (even if I only really use it a few times a year) and the Trolley seems to do reasonably well. I have less experience with the bus system, though, but other than the length of time required to take it I've had no problems thus far. It'll be interesting to see if they actually go open loop and accept CC taps right when their new payment system goes live in a couple of years; the stuff I originally heard claimed that it wouldn't to start.