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Istanbulkart is
an RFID "electronic
wallet" card to be used
in Istanbul,
Turkey. (Similar RFID cards
are used in many other cities: Oyster
Card in
London,
Navigo in Paris,
Charlie Card in Boston,
etc.)
The first and obvious use of the Istanbulkart is
as a transit
pass: you place the card
near a fare point (say, at a Metro or ferryboat turnstile,
or when boarding a city
bus) and
the amount of your fare is deducted
from the card.
Supposedly inaugurated in March 2009,
the Istanbulkart was
still not in general
use as of January 1, 2010. It's unclear
when general distribution will begin.
According to the Istanbulkart
website,
you can obtain one (for TL6)
only at the IETT booth in Mecidiyeköy.
No address or location for this booth
is provided.
The Istanbulkart,
which is supposed to replace the older Akbil transit
pass, benefits from discounted
fares and transfers: a TL2
fare is supposed to be only
TL1.50
with the Istanbulkart,
and up to five transfers to other transport
lines (Metro, tram, bus, ferry, Tünel,
funicular) within a two-hour journey
are only TL0.75.
More...
There's lots more coming: the project
envisions that eventually the Istanbulkart will
be used to pay for parking
fees, taxi fares, admission
to museums, cinemas, theaters and other
cultural venues, and even for personal
identification.
(Privacy advocates take note: users
of the card may be traceable in their
travel and other activities.)
The plan is to make Istanbulkarts available
for purchase with Turkish
lira coins and notes, or credit
card from fare
machines at
major transit points such as bus and
Metro stations, ferry
docks, etc.
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| Transit
ticket vending machine,
for Istanbulkart,
Akbil,
credit card (eventually), and jeton (token), Istanbul. |
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