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Chicago seniors can still use smart cards for free travel
19 Nov 2009

Smart cards will still be used by the older generation in Chicago for travelling on buses and trains, it has been reported.

According to the South West News Herald, the contactless payment system - which is part of the Senior Ride Free programme - will continue to be in place.

Moves had been made to restrict the initiative, but the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) has come to the decision to keep it running.

People over the age of 65 qualify for the smart card, which allows them to ride on all RTA services such as Chicago Transit Authority buses and Metra trains for no cost.

Contactless smart card payment for travel is used across the world and includes the Oyster card system in London, England.

The man behind this payment method, Jay Walder is now the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transport Authority in New York, and is currently in the process of establishing a similar scheme in the Big Apple.