EasyCard
Encyclopedia
Electronic money
Electronic money is money or scrip that is only exchanged electronically. Typically, this involves the use of computer networks, the internet and digital stored value systems...
on the Taipei MRT
Taipei Rapid Transit System
The Taipei Metro, more commonly known as the MRT or formally as the Taipei Rapid Transit System, is a rapid transit system serving metropolitan Taipei in Taiwan. The system is built and operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and consists of 89 stations and of revenue track...
(also known as Metro), buses, and other public transport services in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
since June 2002. Its use has since been expanded to include convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s, department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s, supermarkets, and other retailers. Like conventional electronic fare systems, the card employs RFID technology to operate without physical contact. They are available for purchase at all MRT stations
Taipei Rapid Transit System
The Taipei Metro, more commonly known as the MRT or formally as the Taipei Rapid Transit System, is a rapid transit system serving metropolitan Taipei in Taiwan. The system is built and operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and consists of 89 stations and of revenue track...
and all chain convenience stores.
History
The Taipei Smart Card Corporation was established in 2000 with a total capitalization of NT$New Taiwan dollar
The New Taiwan dollar , or simply Taiwan dollar, is the official currency of the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China since 1949, when it replaced the Old Taiwan dollar...
500 million. Shareholders include the Taipei City Government, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, banks, bus companies, and other companies. Promotional trials of the card began in 2001, and the card was officially released in 2002. In 2008, the company changed its name to the EasyCard Corporation to increase branding and visibility.
By 2009, the company had issued over 18 million cards (over 20 million if co-branded cards are included). EasyCard transactions now account for 91% of Taipei MRT system transactions, 92% of bus
Taipei bus
The Taipei Joint Bus System is a bus system that serves the greater metropolitan area of Taipei, Taiwan. It is administered by the Taipei Joint Bus Service Management Center, the Taipei City Traffic Bureau, and the New Taipei City Traffic Bureau , and is operated by 15 private agencies...
transactions, and 71% of parking lot transactions. Daily transactions reached 3.1 million in 2009.
Brand
The name EasyCard was chosen in a contest where the general public was asked to propose names. In Mandarin Chinese the card is known as 悠遊卡 (PinyinPinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Yōu-yóu Kǎ), which literally means Easy Travel Card. The logo is composed of four different colored logos radiating outward, each representing something different: technology and unhindered travel, sustainable development, commitment, and efficiency. In 2003, the EasyCard logo won the 20th American Corporate Identity Award of Excellence.
Taipei MRT
Users of the card on the Taipei MRTTaipei Rapid Transit System
The Taipei Metro, more commonly known as the MRT or formally as the Taipei Rapid Transit System, is a rapid transit system serving metropolitan Taipei in Taiwan. The system is built and operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and consists of 89 stations and of revenue track...
are required to pass the card over the EasyCard sensor area on faregates both entering and exiting the stations; the first pass registers the start of the journey and the second as the end. Fares deducted from the card depend on the distance traveled and whether a public bus was used within a transfer time frame that is currently set to one hour. Fares on the Taipei MRT are based on distance, with a 20% discount over single journey tokens.
The pass can also be used for the Maokong Gondola
Maokong Gondola
The Maokong Gondola is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on July 4, 2007, the Maokong Gondola runs between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four stations...
without any discounts.
Taiwan Railway Administration
The card can currently be used on TRATaiwan Railway Administration
The Taiwan Railway Administration is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight service on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan...
trains from Keelung
Keelung Station
Keelung Station is a terminus of the Taiwan Railway Administration Western Line and Eastern Line in Keelung City, Taiwan.-Overview:The station structure is three stories...
to Hsinchu
Hsinchu Station
Hsinchu Station is a railway station of Taiwan Railway Administration Western Line, Neiwan Line located at Hsinchu City, Taiwan.- Service :...
and Ruifang Station.
Except full seat-reserved trains such Taroko Express, group trains, tourism trains and specified operating trains, all passenger trains allow payment with the EasyCard with a 10% discount base to local train fare.
Buses
When paying bus fare, the EasyCard machine prevents repeated transactions on the same card until the bus travels into the next paying section. The bus driver can decide to reset cards to pay for another passenger. Transfers between the MRT and bus systems offer half fare discounts which are automatically taken when the card is scanned. The EasyCard can be used on bus systems in Taipei, New Taipei, and KeelungKeelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
.
Taxis
A trial allowing the payment of taxi fares with the card was carried out in 2005 but this payment option was not then implemented on a wider level for taxi journeys.Parking
EasyCards are accepted in government-run parking lots and some privately-run parking lots. Parking meters accept Easy Cards exclusively, charged in quarter-hour increments, and expire in due time like a normal meter.In addition to being usable on the Taipei MRT
Taipei Rapid Transit System
The Taipei Metro, more commonly known as the MRT or formally as the Taipei Rapid Transit System, is a rapid transit system serving metropolitan Taipei in Taiwan. The system is built and operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and consists of 89 stations and of revenue track...
and buses, the EasyCard is also accepted at public garages adjacent to MRT stations and in other areas of Taipei. As of 2008, the EasyCard can be used to pay for boat rides in areas such as Tamsui.
Designated retailers
As of April 1, 2010, EasyCards can now be used to pay for purchases at some stores including as 7-Eleven7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
, FamilyMart
FamilyMart
is a convenience store franchise chain first opened in Japan on September 1, 1981. FamilyMart is Japan's third largest convenience store chain, behind 7-Eleven and Lawson, and the largest chain store in South Korea. FamilyMart is owned and overseen by FamilyMart Company, Limited...
, Cosmed, OK Mart, Hi-Life, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, and Pacific SOGO
Sogo
Sogo Co., Ltd. is a department store chain that operates an extensive network of branches in Japan. It once owned stores in locations as diverse as Beijing in China, Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, Taipei in Taiwan, Jakarta, Medan, Bandung & Surabaya in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore,...
. The EasyCard can now be used at over 10,000 retail outlets throughout Taiwan. In 2011, card usage is expected to be expanded to gas stations and fast food chains.
Other uses
In addition to payment, the EasyCard has also been used as a multifunctional card. At the 2010 World Model UN Conference held in Taipei, the card served as a ticket, meal coupon, and identification card (in addition to its regular uses). Limited edition cards have also been sold to raise money for charity.Other areas of use
See :zh:悠遊卡使用範圍列表 for further information about the EasyCard in Chinese.In addition to paying for public transit, parking, and select retailers, the EasyCard can also be used for:
- Intercity busIntercity busAn intercity bus is a bus that carries passengers significant distances between different cities, towns, or other populated areas. Unlike a municipal bus, which has frequent stops throughout a city or town, an intercity bus generally has a single stop at a centralized location within the city, and...
es bound for Yilan through Syueshan Tunnel on No. 5 Freeway, and another routes bound for Hsinchu, Taichung, etc. - Buses on Matsu Island.
- Buses in Yilan County, four lines south of Lanyang River operated by Capital Bus.
- Ferries (Taipei Blue highway).
- Admission into the Taipei ZooTaipei ZooThe Taipei Zoo , sometimes referred to as the "Muzha Zoo" , is a public zoological garden in Taipei City in Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation...
, and a few museums, festival activities and recreational areas. - Library cards, allowing the user to borrow materials from Taipei or Yilan Public Libraries.
- Digital IDs, including Student ID Cards.
- YouBike bicycle rental system.
- Flora Exhiblion
Payment and recharge
EasyCards can be used for purchases of up to NT$1,000 at available stores once, up to a maximum of NT$3,000 per day. This limit does not apply to payment of government fees, public service charges, medical costs, transport services (including recreational services like the Maokong GondolaMaokong Gondola
The Maokong Gondola is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on July 4, 2007, the Maokong Gondola runs between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four stations...
or bicycle rental), miscellaneous school expenses, and parking fees. Value can be recharge in multiples of NT$100 and each card can hold up to NT$10,000 of value.
For consumer safety, all money from EasyCard deposits are held in the EasyCard Prepaid Trust Fund managed by Cathay United Bank
Cathay United Bank
Cathay United Bank is formed by the merger of United World Chinese Commercial Bank and Cathay United Bank, both are the 100%-owned subsidiaries of Cathay Financial Holding Company...
. All deposits are protected by a full refund guarantee issued by First Bank.
If a card has not been used for over two years, a recharge must be made before the card will be reactivated. The balance on a card can be checked on the scanner unit whenever a transaction is made or using an EasyCard Reader located at all Taipei MRT stations.
Types of cards
- Adult: These standard fare cards cost NT$500, inclusive of a NT$400 balance and NT$100 deposit. Purchase and add-value are available to all Taipei MRT stations, bus stations, and most convenience stores. The card can be credited to a maximum of balance of NT$10,000. Unused fees and the deposit are refundable.
- Student: These cards costs the same amount (NT$500), but can only be purchased from station staff with appropriate student identification. The pricing model remains the same on the MRT but is discounted on public buses at NT$12 rather than NT$15.
Note: As of May 1, 2010, at certain convenience store chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart), Adult and Student cards may be purchased at NT$200 (NT$100 balance and NT$100 deposit).
- Concessionaire: These cards are reserved for children (under eligible legislation), seniors over 65 years of age, and disabled persons. It offers discounts depending on the service used.
- Taipei PassTaipei PassThe Taipei Pass , is a travel pass issued by the Traffic Bureau 委託ed EasyCard Corporation in Taipei, the principal city of Taiwan. First issued in November 2006, it is available for periods of 1–day, 2–days、3–days and 5–days...
: A special-purpose card that allows for unlimited travel on the MRT and associated bus services and unlimited trips on the Maokong GondolaMaokong GondolaThe Maokong Gondola is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on July 4, 2007, the Maokong Gondola runs between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four stations...
. The pass is sold as a one-day, two-day, three-day, or five-day pass. It expires on midnight of the expiry date. Buses that accept the card will display a TaipeiPass identification sticker.
Co-branded EasyCard Credit Cards
Joint-branded cards allow for an EasyCard to be linked with a credit or ATM account to automatically add value. This allows for consumers to pay for products, services, or government fees with the card. The option remains popular with users in spite of handling fees and a limit of how much money can be added per day (NT$500).Mobile device integration
Several attempts have been made to embed EasyCard radio chips into mobile devices, enabling "transactions by phone." Users are not billed by their telecommunications accounts; rather, they can read transaction records and check balance using a supported mobile phone.Security attacks
At the 27th annual German Chaos Communication CongressChaos Communication Congress
The Chaos Communication Congress is an annual meeting of the international hacker scene, organized by the Chaos Computer Club. The congress features a variety of lectures and workshops on technical and political issues....
hacker conference ("27C3"), German free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
programmer Harald Welte
Harald Welte
Harald Welte is a programmer resident in Berlin, Germany. Within the free software community, Welte is well known as a hacker of the Linux kernel and for his activities in enforcing the GNU General Public License , the license that governs the use of much of free software.Welte is also involved in...
showed that it is possible to artificially change the amount of money stored on an EasyCard, using nothing more than a USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
RFID reader and a laptop computer
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
running open source software
Free and open source software
Free and open-source software or free/libre/open-source software is software that is liberally licensed to grant users the right to use, study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code...
. Welte denounced the system for its poor choice of cipher
Cipher
In cryptography, a cipher is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption — a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure. An alternative, less common term is encipherment. In non-technical usage, a “cipher” is the same thing as a “code”; however, the concepts...
and lack of user authentication. He was able to map out and manipulate the card's internal format in 2 days on a trip in Taiwan. In his public speech, Welte commented,
Reception
The EasyCard has been very popular since its launch in 2002. By 2010, over 23 million cards had been issued. (The source did not say what cards have returned has subprised)Critics have called for stronger measures to promote name registration of EasyCards in order to protect consumer rights. Over NT$600 million is lost yearly in lost cards. As of 2009, less than 0.02% of cards had been registered.