British Columbia's transit system in Canada has announced that they are implementing electronic fare collection on buses in most regions of the province, including small towns.
The Compass card system was recently installed on buses and skytrains in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver & surrounding area), requiring users to scan in with fare cards (which open the newly-installed gates and tracks where you go). Users can purchase paper tickets (with RFID chips inside) but will have to pay double to transfer from bus to skytrain. Most people choose to buy a reloadable, trackable pass or to tap in with debit, credit card oh smartphone payment.
"Cash will continue to be accepted for those riders who prefer to use it, but it is expected most riders will find one of the new payment methods a more convenient option"
Fare Paid Zone sign before gates were installed at Skytrain stations
Things like this are always advertised as convenient and opening up options, except it isn't long until cash is not accepted, made difficult especially for the poor or disabled, or at least frowned upon. Now people who use electronic currency, but not contactless payment are now being looked at funny or even suspiciously.
The beginning of the pandemic was an eye-opener to the cashless economy the elite are trying to usher in...just think of all the ways cash was discouraged or not accepted while curbside pickup, home delivery, online ordering and contactless, digital payment became all the rage, especially big corporations like Amazon and instacart. While it's nice and convenient to be constantly connected with people and have everything ordered instantly to you through your smartphone, remember there are other ways of doing things. Don't get stuck in a kind of pattern that makes you a sheep for herding.