From next week a trip on a Bay of Plenty bus can be paid for with a new prepay travel smartcard called a Bee card.
"All around the world these cards are used," Bay of Plenty regional councillor Andrew von Dadelszen said.
"The reason we're getting them is, one it's good for the patron, the bus passenger. It's also good for the operational staff to understand where people get on and where they get off the bus so we can cater for better timetabling and better route decision making."
Services in the Eastern Bay, Omokoroa, Katikati and Rotorua will adopt the new Bee Card system from Monday, while Tauranga bus users have to wait until the following week.
"Every bus has a machine in there now that can read the card. There's a card reader at the front of the bus and another one at the back for people exiting the bus and there's the software and technology that goes with it. It is a big expense shift but it will make a huge difference and it will help passengers," von Dadelszen said.