The Umo card (left) and paying a bus fare by scanning a smartphone app. (Photo via BC Transit)
BC Transit’s new contactless fare payment system has officially been launched in Kamloops.
It’s called Umo (pronounced you-mo), and it will be similar to Compass Cards used by Translink in the Lower Mainland.
BC Transit says new fare validators which were installed on all Kamloops buses have been activated, allowing people to tap their Umo cards or scan a QR code in the Umo app on their smartphones to pay their fares.
“Umo introduces contactless payment methods and new fare products that improve the transit experience by allowing riders to pick the best options for their lifestyle and
travel habits,” it said, in a statement.
“New payment methods include the Umo Mobility app and a reloadable Umo card.”
Kamloops Transportation Planner, Jacob Burnley, says Kamloopsians will still be able to pay their bus fares using cash, though paper tickets will phased out later this year.
He also says while there won’t be any changes to bus fares – which remain at $2 for a single ride or $4 for a day pass – there will be some changes to the monthly passes that will be phased in gradually.
“There is a 30 day rolling pass that will be coming in. If you buy a pass say on the 17th, its valid till the 17th of the next month,” Burnley said, noting as things stand, people need to wait for the start of a month before they can use those passes. “That is the main fare policy change.”
“There is the removal of the ticket fares as a purchase option but you can still redeem them. We’re moving away from that so that we can do the fare capping with the card. Once you pay with your card and you reach the $4 for the day, they won’t charge you for the rest of the day.”
Proposed Updated BC Transit Fare Structure in Kamloops. (Photo via City of Kamloops)
In a report to city council last year, he said other specialty passes like U-PASS, KamPASS, and ProPASS will still be offered to people in Kamloops.
“Coordinators from organizations that issue specialty passes will be provided with benefit codes from BC Transit to assign to users to allow for discounted pass purchases,” Burnley said, in the report. “This benefit code approach could also allow other specialty passes to be developed for special one-off cases, such as conferences, sporting events, and community events.”
“Partnerships involving transit ticket distribution to local supportive agencies (e.g. United Way) may continue using Umo. Paper QR code tickets will be available to support organizations where contactless tap card distribution (and the reloading of fares) may not be practical or feasible.”
Burnley also told Radio NL that people will be able to use their Umo account across other BC Transit systems.
“If you purchase a monthly pass or a specific pass for a semester those won’t be transferable, those will be specific to Kamloops or to Kelowna, but if you load just cash on your card, you’ll be able to use that stored value, that cash, in those other systems,” he said.
“Those will be charged and adjusted based on what the fare is in that particular system.”
More vendors to come online soon
As it stands, there are just two vendors in Kamloops – Aberdeen Mall and Swelaps Market – where people can buy physical Umo cards, if they don’t want to get the app. Cards can be topped up either through a vendor, online, or by calling Umo’s customer service call centre at 1-877-380-8181.
“We’ve got a team working behind the scenes and with our colleagues at the City of Kamloops to make sure there is appropriate vendor coverage, BC Transit’s Director of Revenue Development Ryan Dennis said on NL Newsday.
“Anyone who is interested can visit bctransit.com/kamloops/fares/where-to-buy to find out where Umo is sold in Kamloops.”
Burnley also recommends that people register their card by creating a Umo account, saying it will allow people to restore their accounts – and the money loaded onto it – if they lose their cards.
“We won’t be having like fare vending machines [on the buses or at stops] but we do have a number of existing vendors that have shown interest in supporting the Umo program,” Burnley said.
“Essentially what that means is people will be able to go into a local business and reload their card there or they can also reload it only via the app or from home as well.”
You can find out more about Umo here.
