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Oyster transit cards 'could be used for charity donations'
26 Jul 2011

A new student project in London has been experimenting with using Oyster transit cards as a means of encouraging people to make charitable donations.

Stuart Kench and Helen Parry, final year undergraduates at Kingston University, recently won a prize at the Royal Society of Arts student design awards for a new scheme called Donate at the Gate.

It involved setting up a separate tube gate at the London Underground that deducts an extra penny when commuters swipe their contactless smart card, which is then given directly to a selected charity, reports Guardian Professional.

According to the students, this scheme is likely to be much better received than charity workers soliciting donations on the street, as this method allows people to give money to charity without providing additional details.

"Could it become a reality? We think so, because the system fits into everyday life allowing everyone to donate," they said.

Transport for London is currently examining plans to roll out contactless payment systems more extensively in the capital, based on the success of the Oyster card scheme.