Andong to pilot cashless buses on 4 city routes starting next month

Andong city in North Gyeongsang Province will launch a four-month cashless bus pilot program covering four major city routes from Sept. 1 through the end of December, the city announced Monday.

The pilot will cover routes 110, 111, Circular 2 and Circular 2-1, which are among the most heavily used by residents.

Passengers on those routes will be required to pay fares using a transit card or other cashless method instead of cash during the trial period.

The city said the initiative aims to reduce driver distraction caused by handling cash and making change while the bus is in motion, thereby preventing safety incidents and cutting boarding and alighting delays to create a faster, more convenient public transit experience.

Before the program takes effect, the city plans to post notices inside vehicles, at bus stops and at major facilities, and will publicize the start date, affected routes and payment methods through its official website and SNS channels.

During the pilot, the city will analyze ridership data and improvements in travel times for each route and collect feedback from passengers on any inconveniences. Based on those findings, it will refine the program's operating procedures and consider expanding it to additional routes.

"With transit card usage on city buses already reaching 95 percent, we plan to use this program to build an even safer and more efficient public transit environment," a city official said. "We ask passengers on the affected routes to prepare a transit card in advance and cooperate actively with the pilot."