Monederos have arrived
Monedero advertised on No 8 bus, originally uploaded by blmurch.
The Monedero system is currently in use in the subway system here in Buenos Aires. It's an RFID (radio frequency id) card that you swipe and it deducts your fare. It's easy to use and helps with the stupid coin shortage (mentioned in the Argentimes, The New Yorker, Slate and numerous expat blogs), even though you could always buy tickets from the counter with bills, so it wasn't that big of a deal.
I have been wanting this in the bus for at least the last two years. There is no way to pay for your bus trip except with precious coins that you either have to save all the time or just go to the bank, wait in line and get 5 or 6 pesos (they're supposed to give you 20 if you ask) in peso coins if you're lucky. When my brother was here last year, he'd always give me a pile of coins as he never used his and he always got more each time he bought something. One of the many reasons I miss him. :D
This morning, as I made my way to San Telmo to work at theargentimes.com, my eyes bulged in wonderful surprise when I saw my number 8 bus advertising the monedero system!!! I got very excited and tried to pay, but this was just a teaser. The systems have been installed in some of the buses, but won't be active until next week. Tauntingly, the screen flashed: "Esperando conexión CERRADO".
This is progress. I first heard about this actually coming to fruition in the Slate article on the coin shortage in October 2008. I got very excited, but tempered that excitement with a heavy dose of "I'll believe it when I actually see it." On February 4 President Kirchner announced with fanfare that within 90 days the buses would be equipped with the monedero system. When the 90 days passed her office would just say "no comment" when questioned on the installation progress. Back in February she had said the card would "improve the quality of life for public transport users and gradually solve the problem with the lack of coins". The problem was that there was a fight as to who will actually pay for the card readers and the system as the bus companies are all privately held (there are over 100 in Bs As alone) and yet the routes and the fares are set by the govt. No one wanted to you know actually *pay* for them even though it is a brilliant idea.
I'm very happy to see them installed in some buses and am very much looking forward to using them next week when hopefully, they'll actually be in service!
UPDATE!!! I have used my monedero on my way to and from San Telmo and I have seen them on the number 5 and 50 buses. Looks like it's for real!