The cardboard ticket has definitely not said its last word in Parisian transport.
After a long interruption, occasional travelers and tourists who use RATP buses will again be able, from this Monday, July 4, to buy a single ticket (2 euros) directly from the machinist driver.
This breakdown sale, which represented less than 2% of bus tickets sold before the Covid-19 crisis, was interrupted during the “first wave” of coronavirus, in the spring of 2020. In order to protect the 16,000 machinist drivers of the RATP, Plexiglas walls had been installed in front of the driving position, effectively preventing the sale of tickets on board.
The presence of a wall also had the effect of keeping one of the two half-access doors at the front of the vehicle closed.
A decision made in consultation with the staff
“The consultations with the staff representative bodies concerning the removal of Plexiglas on board the buses as part of the sale on board of transport tickets ended last week.
This device is gradually being withdrawn from buses.
This will make it possible to return to a rite of welcoming our customers by facilitating access by opening the two half-doors from July 4, ”confirms the RATP.
In the fall of 2020, the management of the RATP decided to remove the walls and give travelers the possibility of buying their sesame from the driver.
But this desire to return to normal in the midst of a health crisis had aroused great reluctance from employees and their unions, to the point of triggering a strike movement in February 2021. The CGT-RATP then took legal action and obtained the return of the workers. protective walls in the company's 4,300 buses, in April 2021.
A loss estimated at 5 million euros
Since this court decision, the RATP was the only bus network in France where the purchase of a “physical” transport ticket inside the vehicles remained suspended.
“Île-de-France Mobilités had repeatedly asked the RATP to return to the sale of tickets on board buses, as well as the opening of the two doors, for better passenger comfort, recalls the authority in charge. transport in the Paris region.
The sale of on-board tickets resumed more than a year ago everywhere in Île-de-France, with the exception of buses operated by the RATP, without this having any consequences on the service.
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While the Covid-19 crisis is having a heavy impact on IDFM's finances, "the cessation of the sale of on-board access tickets has led to a loss of revenue for Île-de-France Mobilités estimated at more than 5 million euros”, estimates the authority.
In addition to the health risks, some RATP drivers consider that the time devoted to sales generates delays and stress.
They would have liked the end of this practice.
Especially since other means exist today to obtain a ticket at the last minute.
The dematerialized ticket is becoming widespread
To enable occasional travelers to obtain a ticket, the RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités recommend “dematerialized” payment by SMS.
All you have to do is send a text message with “Bus” + the line number to 93 800. The user then receives a text message which acts as a transport ticket.
And the 2 euros are debited from the telephone plan.
The traveler can also buy and load dematerialized tickets on his Navigo Easy pass with his smartphone.
In a few weeks, thanks to HCE technology, Android smartphones should allow you to validate your journey on the Ile-de-France network.
"But these technologies are not easy to access for everyone, especially the elderly, who take the bus a lot," notes a transport user.
The paper ticket on the bus should therefore still be present for some time.