Dutch public transport companies have announced a trial in which a small number of passengers will use a new GPS tracking feature in a mobile app, meaning they will no longer have to check in and out when using public transport.
GPS tracking in mobile app to replace OV Chipkaart?
The test, launched by public transport companies OVpay and Translink and due to start on February 14, will see around 100 passengers in the Netherlands using an app on their mobile phones to track their journeys, meaning they won’t check anymore need to -in or out when switching between modes of transport or different public transport operators.
Travelers only need to register the journey via the app at their starting point and receive a unique QR code that can be scanned to open the barriers at the stations. They can then continue their journey as usual without having to scan their OV Chipkaart and only have to remember to close the app once they have reached their final destination. Your journey is tracked via a GPS tracking system, the fare is calculated via Translink and the final costs are transmitted to the respective public transport operator.
Translink and OVPay ensure that travelers’ privacy is a top priority
The trial is specifically designed for travelers using multiple different public transport companies in just one journey, with a spokesperson for OVpay explaining that the system is entirely voluntary and “can make the journey a lot easier”.
While the rollout of the new system is still in the testing phase, some travelers may be concerned about how a GPS tracker could affect their privacy. However, the project’s backers have stressed that the location data will only be used to determine the total price of the trip: “Privacy is important with this plan, we’re not looking for additional data that we can’t do anything with,” program director Bas van Weele said to Trow.
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