RATP switches to SMS ticketing in response to Covid-19

RATP is offering a new "SMS Ticket Bus" service, enabling passengers to obtain their ticket by sending a simple message from their phone. The aim is to reduce the exposure of passengers and drivers to Covid-19, with a telephone "barrier gesture"...
Covid-19 has prompted RATP to speed up the roll-out of its Ticket Bus SMS service

Already active for many years in other European (Prague) and French (Le Havre) cities, the ticket by SMS is now operational in Paris buses. La RATP was experimenting with this tool "SMS Ticket Bus since the end 2018. Le health context has accelerated its application to the general public, as the sale of tickets on board buses involves interaction between passengers and drivers. When approaching the bus, passengers simply send the message "Bus" followed by the line number (e.g. Bus46, without spaces) to the number of their choice. 93800. They then receive a text message that acts as their ticket. The passenger is then charged €2 on their telephone bill. The "SMS Ticket Bus" service does not require no prior registrationand can be used by several people - as long as as as many SMS messages are sent as there are travellers - and no correspondence. Le containment This service, which came into effect at midday on 17 March, is only available for the few journeys authorised by the authorities. On Wednesday, RATP was operating 70% of bus and tram traffic, and was forecasting a drop in activity over the next few days.

The SMS Ticket Bus service costs €2 per journey, without connection