The Fiji Bus Operators Association (FBOA) has reported a positive response from public transport users to the recent implementation of the ‘No Card, No Ride’ policy under the Electronic Fare Ticketing (Omnibus) Regulations 2017. FBOA President Richard Lal stated that since the policy became effective earlier this week, there has been a remarkable surge in e-ticket card registrations, which increased by 164 percent. On December 15, registrations jumped from an average of 600 to 1,506, followed by an even higher count of 1,664 the next day.
According to Lal, the regulations mandate that all bus passengers pay their fares using e-ticketing cards, with non-compliance resulting in a fixed penalty of $50. By adhering to this policy, bus operators play a crucial role in safeguarding commuters from incurring fines, which are notably higher than the standard bus fares.
Monitoring efforts in the Western Division revealed that 88 percent of passengers had valid e-tickets and were permitted to travel, while only 12 percent without cards were denied entry. Lal expressed gratitude to the law-abiding majority of commuters for their compliance, highlighting their responsibility in supporting this initiative.
This positive shift in behavior indicates that the new policy is fostering a culture of accountability and compliance among public transport users, ultimately contributing to a more organized and efficient transportation system in Fiji.
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