Using QR codes for public transport serves in many ways from payment to surveys to discounts. It is a quick and convenient way to run a bus pass when passengers get on instead of using a card. Collecting feedback about public transportation services by QR code is also a cost-effective way to receive feedback and provide quality services to passengers. Post the QR codes for payment in the front of the vehicle and post QR codes for feedback at transit stops where people can click and review after they ride.

Benefits of Using Public Transport QR Codes

1. It’s useful for simple communication

A public transport QR code is beneficial for easily collecting comments after a customer survey, complaints, suggestions, and reporting to lost and found. Send passengers to direct contacts in customer service or management in the transportation company to be able to address issues without them having to sign in to an account online.

2. It reduces time and labor costs

Get information quickly from hundreds of people without having staff collect data in person. Collecting feedback can be done in seconds now without staff having to be present. Staff can contact passengers later if they leave their contact information.

3. It’s easy to make and use

Make a QR code in minutes to be scanned for any reason and post in a visible place with a call-to-action for people to scan and respond. Incorporate your logo and transit colors into your QR code to have a more professional look. Dynamic QR codes can also be easily updated and the content can be changed in minutes by simply editing the code on the Supercode analytics dashboard. If you would like to change feedback questions or any marketing campaign, it is simple to do without changing the physical code placed in visible places.

4. It's eco-friendly

Having a QR code for public transportation saves paper from surveys and tickets that would normally get thrown in the bin or on the street. Now passengers can pay and give feedback by scanning the QR code on their phone.

5. It is simple to track every QR code

Track QR code scans easily to measure the success of your QR code. Supercode's clean and organized dashboard offers analytics on every code scanned so you can use the information to improve services, see traffic to social media and websites from your public transport QR codes, and contact passengers directly, should they leave their information, in order to address any red flags.

Applications of Public Transport QR Codes

1. Engage with passengers via messages and email

Use a Supercode email QR code to open a communication channel between you and the passenger. Now be able to interact regarding customer service issues, suggestions, and more by allowing customers to interact with you directly.

2. Use QR codes for payment

Instead of carrying around cards in their wallets, now passengers can scan the QR code when they get on the bus to easily pay their fare. Charging transit cards and buying tokens is no longer necessary. Now scan a QR code and have transit fares automatically deducted from their transit accounts or bank or credit card accounts of their choice.

3. Create surveys for passengers

Would you like feedback about the cleanliness of the bus, subway, or cab? How about the customer service and bus fees? Make a short survey for the passengers to take when they get off the bus to ensure they had a great ride and a successful stop.

4. Provide tourist information

Provide QR codes to maps of the city and examples of tourist sites with bus and train routes so that the information is translatable on their smartphones.

5. Offer discounts for scans

Offer a discount on rides if the passenger scans a QR code to give feedback or connect to an app or follows your social media.

How to Create a QR Code for Public Transport

Creating QRs on Supercode is easy and takes seconds.

1. Choose the right type of QR code. Here are some of our suggestions:

• URL QR Codes - perfect for sending passengers directly to your website. 
• Feedback QR Codes - great for placing a QR code on bus and subway stops to ask for feedback about their rides instead of transportation staff asking for data in person.
• Email QR Codes - fantastic for questions regarding customer service, complaints, suggestions, and lost and found issues.
• SMS QR Codes - amazing for information that is necessary in an already prewritten SMS message. This code works everywhere as it requires no internet connection. Perfect for subway tunnels without internet connection.
• vCard QR Codes - the easiest way for passengers to get in touch with customer service or lost and found directly.
• Social Media QR Codes - ideal for increasing the number of followers on your social media accounts so transport companies can continuously update passengers with necessary information. 
• Bulk QR Codes - amazing for offering a one-time-only scan to give discounts and incentives to new passengers who want to try your service.
• WhatsApp QR Codes - perfect for urgent customer service or lost and found issues.

2. Create a code 

Creating a code on Supercode is easy and takes seconds. Choose the type, the link or the content to include and click on save when you are ready.

3. Modify the design

Design an eye-catching QR code to match your branding guidelines.

4. Add your QR code to a folder to organize your workspace

Add customizable categories for new folders in the Supercode dashboard. Or, add your new QR code to a preexisting folder, both of which you can share with your marketing and management teams.

5. Test the code 

Scan the code by directing your phone camera on it and check if all the content displayed is correct. To make changes, simply go back to the dashboard and edit the code.

6. Print the code

Print QR code on the back of seats on various transport and on bus and subway stops for feedback after getting off the transport.

7. Track analytics

Tracking QR codes scanned on the Supercode analytics dashboard for scaling marketing campaigns.

Learn how to create bulk QR codes with Supercode's QR code generator.

Best Practices for Public Transport QR Codes

1. Track feedback

Supercode's dashboard analytics track every scan, allowing you to view customer feedback, what city the scan has come from, on what device. This assists in knowing your traffic flow to social media and websites through your QR codes.

In a transportation management study by USF, public transportation passengers in Madrid were able to click QR codes to take surveys about their riding experience instead of taking face-to-face surveys. The study showed that the data could be collected easier and in a more eco-friendly way in addition to cost-saving by the transportation company. This information was then used to improve the quality of the ride they are given based on passenger preferences.

2. Use public transport QR codes for fast payment

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has launched a QR Code payment system to facilitate bus passengers in a bid to make Thailand into a cashless society. Since June 2008, more than 300 passengers pay their bus fare by QR code by bus per day and it is expected to rise by 10%.

3. Offer discounts and incentives

Sherbet Ride in London offered a discount on their next ride if passengers scanned their QR code. This is a great way to get passengers following your social media sites for more personal interaction.

4. Use on coupons to promote your service

Dontpayfull.com features coupons for Uber to scan a QR code for discounts on rides to promote their service. It is a great incentive for attracting new users or encouraging current passengers to ride more.

5. Use QR codes on bus schedules

Transport for NSW has begun a system of using public transport QR codes with a unique ID at every bus stop. This allows passengers to see updates in real-time such as departure information.