Bilhete Único


Bilhete Único is the name of the São Paulo transportation contactless smart card system for fare control.
Using Philips Mifare technology, the solution is managed by SPTrans, the city bus transportation authority, which is controlled by municipal government. On May 18, 2004, when Marta Suplicy was the mayor, it began to be accepted in buses to allow for up to four rides in two hours by paying a single fare. Since 2006 it can also be used in the local rapid transit system and suburban railways operated by CPTM.

History

The original technological solution was based on Seoul's solution and provider, but the project was aborted mostly due software problems with the complex Vale-Transporte regulation.
Around 2001/2002 the project was restarted by SPTrans, which decided to be the Solution Integrator and Sponsor, and chose to have at least 2 solution providers for every supply, and not to depend on a sole provider like most other cities do.

Providers

The SPTrans Projeto de Bilhetagem Eletrônica, which resulted in the Bilhete Único, has at least 30 different solution and service providers directly involved to reach the goal.
The solution was a major gain solving the recharge problem: all cards are pre-paid, and recharge cannot be done on board. Other Brazilian cities failed on create and spread a large recharge network. Due to "win-win" agreements with Electronic Benefits Cards networks and with the National Lottery network, São Paulo has over 6000 recharge points around the city.
Other software and hardware solutions providers are:
portals and back-office.
As of January 6, 2015, regular Bilhete Único users pay R$ 3.50 for up to four bus rides in a three-hour period. Boarding the rapid transit or the train costs R$ 3.50. An integration between the systems allow for up to three bus rides and either a rapid transit or train ride in a three-hour period for R$ 5.45, provided that the user boards the rapid transit or train in the first two hours. Students and teachers pay half price, while persons with disabilities and seniors have free access.