Some regular bus commuters have suggested that allowing two or more passengers to travel together using the same Smartcard can help increase occupancy levels.

At present, only one passenger can use a card at a time.

As has been reported earlier, some of the existing bus routes do not get too many passengers - particularly on weekdays. An 'innovative, flexible' option such as 'multiple Smartcard users' may help attract more passengers, especially those who do not travel regularly, it is felt.

"Under the existing arrangement, no journey is possible for a passenger without a card unless he or she is prepared to pay QR10 when they board a bus," said an Asian expatriate, stressing that people like him would use buses more frequently if two or more people were allowed to travel together using a single card.

For example, if a passenger who holds a QR100 Smartcard takes along with him two or more persons without cards on a journey, the system should have a provision to pay from the holder's card for the journey of those without cards who are accompanying him.

The expatriate also noted that he had come across workers' groups skipping bus journeys as some of them did not have Smartcards for travel. "In such situations, we usually take taxis or `limousines' on a sharing basis and undertake journeys to far-flung places such as Dukhan and Al Khor, among others" he added.

"The idea is certainly worth considering as it may help attract new customers, which will eventually enhance passenger numbers and make the services more viable," said another expatriate.

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