In Zhytomyr, private carriers completely removed banking terminals from their buses. From November 10, 2025, payment for travel is only made through the unified accounting system 'CityCard'. This was reported by 'Suspilne Zhytomyr'.
New calculation rules
According to Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Shevchuk, the purpose of the transition is to make payments more transparent, convenient, and safer for all participants in transportation. Now, a single system is in place in transport that accepts all types of contactless cards - banking, student cards, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
«The transportation rules state that the equipment must belong to one company that accepts all types of cards. In addition, passengers can use a mobile app, a QR code, or create a free virtual card,» Shevchuk noted.
Why terminals were removed
As reported by the head of the city department 'CityCard' Yuliya Harbovska, the dismantling of banking terminals was a mandatory condition of the new contract.
«Today all routes are operating without banking terminals. Payments are made exclusively through the CityCard system», she explained.
Now passengers can pay for travel in several ways:
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via CityCard;
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QR code in the app;
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virtual card created for free online.
At the same time, some carriers opposed the new terms. Entrepreneur Arkadiy Savitskiy stated that the commission rose from 0.8% to 10% from each transaction, making transport less profitable for private companies.
Control and inspections
The Transport Department plans to conduct regular inspections to ensure that all carriers comply with the terms of the contract. The city council emphasizes that the new system will help avoid cash abuse and simplify control over passenger flow.