13:13 24 Sep 2016
Tom Pyman
Pay-as-you-go travelcard accessible in Kent and Medway from Monday
Archant
The corner beginning between KCC and Medway legislature will be accessible for use from Monday
A pay-as-you-go ride card, identical to a Oyster used in London, has been launched in Kent, permitting passengers to compensate for their sight ride though carrying to scrawl around for change.
The Connected Kent and Medway smartcard has been designed as a corner beginning between Kent County Council and Medway Council and will be accessible for use from Monday.
The label can be surfaced adult online, during certain libraries or in chairman on a sight and there is also ability for an automobile top-up complement identical to that accessible in profitable a Dart Charge during a Dartford Crossing.
It will primarily be supposed on 7 operators: Nu-Venture, Autocar, Chalkwell, ASD, County Connect, Farleigh and Go-Coach.
KCC cupboard member for sourroundings and transport, Matthew Balfour, said: “This intrigue will make it easier for people to get around a county by sight as good as speeding adult a time it takes to board.
“You won’t have to worry about not carrying change and if you’re with your family, we can use a label to compensate for their transport as well.
“Our categorical aim with this label is to make it free for passengers to ride on opposite routes, with mixed operators and this, we hope, will yield a viable choice to a automobile journey.
“Ultimately it will assistance tackle overload and support a metamorphosis of a Kent economy.”
In a prolonged term, KCC wants to see a smartcard that can be stretched to embody sight journeys, bike hire, automobile hire, and concede residents an easy door-to-door journey.
Cllr Balfour added: “I really most acquire a joining of a sight operators who are assisting us launch this sparkling new smartcard and their support has been pivotal in creation this happen.”
Medway Council’s portfolio hilt for front line services, Phil Filmer, said: “This new smartcard not usually modernises a approach people compensate for sight travel, though it will also speed adult a complement to fit with customers’ bustling lifestyles.
“We’re all in a rush these days, so anything we can do to make internal ride some-more available for residents can usually be a good thing.
“The introduction of a remuneration label might even inspire some-more drivers to embankment a automobile and try travelling by sight instead.”
People can revisit a tour formulation website during www.kentconnected.org and a smartcard website is www.connectedkentandmedway.org
Libraries where we can top-up a intelligent label are: Maidstone, Dartford, Sittingbourne, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.