A new payment system, set to roll out at the start of 2026, aims to make riding the bus in San Luis Obispo County faster, easier, and more convenient.

Instead of fumbling with coins, tickets, or physical passes, riders will be able to simply tap their phone, debit card, or credit card to pay when boarding.

“I’ll just take my phone, tap it, it’ll beep, and the driver will know I’ve paid,” one rider explained.

The open-loop payment system is designed to streamline boarding, cut down on wait times, and make riding more appealing by giving passengers a quicker and more efficient payment experience similar to buying a cup of coffee.

“You can purchase your pass on the bus with your phone or card exactly the same way you would buy a coffee,” SLOCOG Transportation Planner Stephen Hanamaikai sa

See Full Page