[jameswyse]

The public transit system here in Brisbane, Australia kind of works like you're describing. We have 'Go Cards' which are just NFC top-up cards, when you board a bus/train/ferry you 'touch on' and when you alight you 'touch off' and it'll deduct your fare from the card automatically. Most buses still accept cash but it's much easier and cheaper to use the cards so I believe most people do.

It's a good system and I'm certainly glad it's NFC instead of having to find an app on my phone every time I want to jump on a bus. So the transit company does have this information but unfortunately they don't choose to share it. I really wish there was a public API :/