SUBE card
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| Location | Being rolled-out nationwide. |
|---|---|
| Launched | February 2009 |
| Technology | |
| Operator | Nación Servicios S.A |
| Currency | ARS |
| Credit expiry | None |
| Retailed |
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| Variants |
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| Website | SUBE.gob.ar |
The SUBE card (standing for Sistema Único de Boleto Electrónico; literal English translation: Unified Electronic Ticket System) is a contactless smart card system introduced in February 2009. It is used on public transport services within the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and was promoted by the Argentine Secretary of Transportation. It is valid on a number of different travel systems across the city including the Underground, buses and trains.
One of the benefits of this change is that it has helped speed passengers on to the bus. People no longer had to wait to be issued a printed receipt as they each enter the bus. Environmentally this should help reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen because buses don't have to idle as long while passengers load, helping improve air quality in the city. The electronic ticket is eliminating the printed receipts thus lowering the amount of littering in the city. The city, in turn, no longer have to process, collect, count, and transport coinage received in payment of some 11 million trips per day.
Buenos Aires was affected for several years by an acute coin shortage that impacted the economy, banking, and transportation. Coins are still rationed by banks, and a thriving black market has been hoarding to sell coins illegally to retailers. Merchants have been rounding prices up or down according to the amount of change a customer actually has, or bartering, and making up the difference with a menial item. The fact that the vast majority of users need to purchase ahead sufficient credit for tickets and passes including highways tolls even for a complete month makes the SUBE card system carry a float of several million pesos which allows for financial backing of various activities at local government level. The system is administered by Banco de la Nacion Argentina.
The SUBE card can be used on several transports method, including Greater Buenos Aires area Buses, Trains, Buenos Aires Metro, and several toll roads. Furthermore the system has expanded to the mayor cities of Argentina: among others Mar del Plata, Villa Gesell, Partido de La Costa, Pinamar, Bahía Blanca, Corrientes, Neuquén, Río Grande, Ushuaia, Formosa, Paraná y Santa Fe,
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