The main public transport provider in Canton Zug has announced that it will soon be scrapping its ticket machines. Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) argued that only a fraction of passengers use the ageing machines, but some fear the decision will have a profound impact on the elderly.
In a statement, ZVB announced that it would be looking to scrap all of its ticket machines in and around Zug. While they may remain in place for longer, the machines will no longer be able to issue public transport tickets from January 1, 2026.
In explaining the decision, the company told Blick that sales from ticket machines have declined by two-thirds in the last five years. As it stands, only nine in every 1.000 passengers use the machines.
Though transport companies may be moving to scrap physical tickets at pace, many have raised concerns about the plans. In other cases in Switzerland, opponents have argued that the plans adversely affect people without bank cards and those who don’t have or are not adept at using mobile phones, namely children and the elderly.
In Zurich, for example, the Pirate Party have launched a referendum which would guarantee the right “to a life without a cell phone”. There is a high chance that it will be approved, with a similar proposal in Geneva being approved with 94 percent of the vote back in June 2023.
In response, ZVB argued that they have already tested how well customers would handle not having the machines to buy tickets. In a pilot test at Baar train station, “almost no” complaints were received.
Of the people who used to buy from the machines, one-third bought their tickets from the bus driver, while two-thirds opted for other sales methods. Even though more people bought tickets from drivers, they only account for 0,01 percent of all tickets sold, so punctuality was not affected.
ZVB concluded that customers will be informed of the impending closures ahead of time. Those who really want physical tickets will still be able to buy them at staffed ticket counters and from bus drivers.