[thriftwy]

For a few years now, you may usually do a contactless card payment - just tap your bank (debit or credit) card. The fare is often higher but so is convenience.

Back around 2010 I remember reading these accusations that significant part of revenue went directly to Mifare for the massive number of chips.

And for single rides, some of Metro systems still use these steampunk brass tokens. Sometimes, less authentic plastic.

[1oooqooq]

every single transportation system that uses disposable nfc are definitely making a ton of money for the vendor.

and every transportation system that pretends to run as a profit center and not a cost center also makes ton of money for the vendors.

[Tijdreiziger]

In the systems I’ve ridden, there’s usually some kind of plastic stored-value card for regular riders, and the (more expensive) disposable tickets are only used by occasional riders.

[Symbiote]

A system I used in China had NFC plastic coins for occasional use, which were collected and refused by the exit barrier.

[thriftwy]

Building roads and selling cars, though, also makes an awful lot of money for the vendors.