JUTC rolls out SmarterCard September 2014 - How JA$20 allows Unruly sex-crazed High School Children and Elderly to Travel and reduce Theft

“Ultimately, we should make money [from the cashless system], because we lose from pilferage. When using the Smarter Card, we do not expect that this will be a major problem. Whatever was being leaked, we will have captured into our coffers”

Marketing and Communications Manager at the JUTC, Clinton Clarke, commenting on the JUTC decision to make SmarterCards mandatory for School Children and Senior Citizens seeking to take advantage of the JA$20 Concessionary Fare

The JUTC Saga continues folks!

This even as Kingstonians are getting used to the presence of Yellow buses and the fine if they take the non-compliant “Robot” Taxis and Buses as pointed out in my blog article entitled “Licensed JUTC KMTR Franchise holders begin operation on April 8th 2014 - Attack of the Stone Throwing Jamaicans against JUTC State sponsored Terrorism again JATOO”.

Now come Monday  September 1^st 2014, all those Unruly children and Senior Citizens HAVE NO CHOICE but to sign up for a SmarterCard if they want to continue paying the concessionary far of JA$20 as stated in “No more coin losses”, Published Sunday July 20, 2014, by Chad Bryan, Sunday Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Those travelers without a SmarterCard will have to pay the regular fare of JA$100. But if this plays out the way I think, Concessions may also be granted to Millennials (ages 18 to 28) and Generation X (ages 29 to 45) if they too adopt the SmarterCard.

JUTC and Fraud – How SmarterCard for Unruly High School Children and Elderly reduces theft

The JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) has loads of sticky fingers within their Ranks as described in my blog article entitled “How to defraud the JUTC and reduce your Bus Fare - Arson and Ticket Fraud means Switchover to the SmarterCard Cashless System before 2014 required”, even as they streamline the Transport System within the KMTR (Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region).

10 to 15% of loss comes from thieving Bus Drivers, with robbers taking the hindmost. Thus by making SmarterCard mandatory for the Elderly and School Children, it's hoped that everyone will eventually fall in line, especially based on the fact that it's supposed to be used by all passengers. Apparently the strategy is to get the kids and elderly using it first as example to the Millennials (ages 18 to 28) and Generation X (ages 29 to 45) that it's not anything difficult to adopt and it's easy to use.

Once that fear is overcome, I’m predicting close to 80% adoption by December 2014. Especially if Cash Prize Promotions offered via partnerships with various Private Sector and Businesses are thrown in, making this demographic more willing to spend if it meant a chance at winning some money e.g. a one year Top up of your SmarterCard as explained in my blog article entitled “JUTC to debut RFID & NFC Readable SmarterCard Cashless Bus Ticket System in April 2013 - The Last Stand for a Cashless Society to empower the Multi-Modal Concept”.

If up to 95% compliance is achieved, the JUTC can even offer the equivalent of Frequent Flyer Miles, with frequent travellers racking up points that they can use to travel free. There is also the possibility of getting extra credit similar to the idea of Bonus Credit on Telecom Provider Digicel’s Network, another sweetener to get Jamaicans used to the idea of a SmarterCard.

SmarterCard increases Profits – PAMS can focus on Unruly, sex-crazed children in HWT Transport Center

The SmarterCard System would reduce theft and increase profits, one of the main reasons why I was upset when the planned Month of implementation, March 2014, passed without any word of its introduction as expected in my blog article entitled “Mandatory SmarterCard Cashless System coming in March 2014 – JUTC Legal challenge NATO over Routes as JA$100 Wi-Fi needed to keep Unruly High School Students Happy”.

To quote Marketing and Communications Manager at the JUTC, Clinton Clarke: “Ultimately, we should make money [from the cashless system], because we lose from pilferage. When using the Smarter Card, we do not expect that this will be a major problem. Whatever was being leaked, we will have captured into our coffers”.

Now all the PAMS (Port Authority Management Services Limited) has to focus on is getting the “White Elephant” known as the Half-Way-Tree Transport Center to actually make money by renting more locations to businesses as explained in my blog article entitled “PAMS to debut GOJ branded Food Court in Half-Way-Tree Transport Center - Making revenue from Unruly smartphone toting High School students via Cooked Food and JA$100 a week Wi-Fi Internet”.

It’s clear to me that the SmarterCard isn’t the sophisticated RFID/NFC idea I’d envisioned it to be. Still, this is a start towards reducing losses within the JUTC come Monday September 1^st 2014.