Like what happens in stores and at toll booths, the contactless payment system using credit and debit cards, or even smartphones and smart watches, has gradually gained space in São Paulo’s public transport.
Although some bus and metro lines have pilot projects, the technology is still little explored compared to already consolidated payment methods, such as Bilhete Único, in the capital, and Bilhete Top, in the metropolitan region.
The transportation most supported by the resource is currently intercity buses, managed by the São Paulo State Transportation Agency (Artesp). According to Autopass, the ticketing company, contactless payment is available on more than 370 lines, totaling around 4,000 vehicles in circulation.
The company also manages ticket sales on certain train and metro lines, both public and privatized. The technology works in the Osasco, Granja Julieta, Campo Belo and João Dias stations, of ViaMobilidade; Jabaquara, Trianon-Masp and Belém, from Metrô; Consolação, from ViaQuatro; and Barra Funda, Brás, Tatuapé, Ipiranga and Aeroporto-Guarulhos, from CPTM – since 2023, according to the company.
In the capital São Paulo, contact payment has recently started to take off. At the beginning of December, Metrô announced the new possibility of payment by physical Mastercard, Visa and Elo cards in all stations on lines 1-Bleue and 3-Rouge. According to the public company, the project will be extended “soon” to lines 2-Vert and 15-Argent. There is currently an exclusive turnstile for this type of payment, unlike Autopass technology which accepts both traditional tickets and bank cards.
A pilot project is also underway on twelve bus lines in the capital, in addition to the Expresso Tiradentes terminals, managed by SPTrans – the full list is on this website. Equipment accepting this payment method is identified with the brands of debit and credit card operators. Fees are billed on the invoice or current account statement.
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Passenger Compliance
With most lines still in the testing phase, dealers are waiting for the coming months to assess whether contactless payment has been adopted by passengers.
In the case of the metro for example, the first assessment should be consolidated at the beginning of 2026, as specified in the report. The other companies did not provide data on the use of the technology compared to conventional methods.
The City of São Paulo, through the Secretariat of Urban Mobility and Transportation and SPTrans, said in a note sent to Metropolises that the Bilhete Único is a consolidated payment system, with approximately 7 million boardings recorded daily in the capital of São Paulo.
“The card guarantees passengers benefits such as the use of up to four buses in three hours, paying for a single trip, as well as a reduction on the integration of Metro or CPTM buses and trains,” indicated the municipal management.
For Horácio Figueira, specialist in transport engineering, the technology that allows payment by credit and debit card mainly benefits those who use transport occasionally, such as tourists, as well as younger passengers, accustomed to the payment method.
“It is good for tourists or for those who travel for work, if the person does not have currency. It is a modern feature that mainly helps casual users, because for those who live here (in São Paulo), the integration works every day,” said the expert.
Horácio emphasizes, however, that the measure alone does not encourage an increase in the number of users of public transport, especially buses. “It would have to be a combined action, providing access to a system that would streamline and extend exclusive travel times. There is no point in recharging by card or cell phone if the bus system does not work,” he said.
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