Kentkart---------> İzmir's smart card system
Kentkart has been managing ”Automatic Fare Collection with Contact less Smart Cards” in Izmir since 15th March 1999, and has integrated two public bus operators, a ferryboat and a metro operator into the system in the borders of Izmir Municipality
.(also the international fair)
The population of the city is 3,5 million (
actually this is the pop. of the province) and 2,4 million Izmir inhabitants are using Kentkart.(
so that means nearly everyody in the city is using the card)
Also let's not forget the fact that there is no more such a thing like bus ticket in İzmir. Because there's no need!! Because everybody has a Kentkart, because it's very convenient, it can be refilled in every corner of the city!! I mean it, there are millions of sales-points around the city.
ADVANTAGES - i compare with Akbil(that of İstanbul)
- fits your wallets
- more advanced technology: you don't need to insert it anywhere, the machine senses it from inside your wallet, in fact i've seen some people showing their asses to the machine with wallets in their backpockets
- millions of salespoints: no need to go to central points like Beşiktaş, Mecidiyeköy for refill. There are even wandering refillers on the streets as well as many cornershops
DISADVANTAGES
- seperate from the student id card (you need to carry both)
- not as an integrated system as Akbil yet, but will be the coming year... the "aktarma" system will be on, also will be used on taxis, dolmuş, otoparks etc.
