lezzgo

lezzgo was a mobile ticketing application for spontaneous travel on public transport in Switzerland. It was aimed at occasional users who did not want to deal with complicated fare systems. The app was developed under the leadership of BLS AG and existed both as a standalone app and as an integrated component of other apps. Users checked in at the start of a journey and checked out at the end, with a reminder function to prevent forgotten checkouts. Billing occurred at the end of the operating day, at 05:00 the following day, and only the best ticket was charged. Zone and Half-Fare subscriptions were taken into account if stored in the app, and the desired class could be selected directly. The final amount was usually debited the following day from a stored Visa, Mastercard, or PostFinance Card. The journey was determined using the device's location services, so the app had to remain open or not fully closed, and an internet connection was required. A code was shown to inspection staff for verification. If a journey was not recorded correctly, the user could manually change it, though this could delay billing if support needed to review the journey. The app was developed starting in 2015 by BLS AG. After basic tests of smartphone sensor accuracy for route detection, prototype development began in autumn 2015. The prototype was used in a field test in the Libero fare network in the canton of Bern in February 2016. Based on positive feedback from users and the press, BLS management decided to develop a productive version and introduce it gradually in Switzerland. lezzgo was made available on 30 May 2016 as a closed user group app for iOS in the Libero fare network. From August 2016, open versions for iOS and Android were released. In September, the Passepartout fare network in the cantons of Lucerne, Nidwalden, and Obwalden was added; in October, Frimobil in the canton of Fribourg; and in December, Onde Verte in the canton of Neuchâtel. On 29 May 2017, the Mobilis fare network in the canton of Vaud joined. The national pilot lezzgoPLUS, which included the national fare system alongside the networks, also started at the end of May 2017 as a closed user group, enabling seamless travel with practically all Swiss transport companies. On 16 November 2017, the Strategic Committee of Direct Traffic (StAD) approved the use of automatic ticket systems according to the standard developed in lezzgoPLUS from 1 January 2018. Since 10 January 2018, lezzgo was usable throughout Switzerland, making Switzerland the first country with a national automatic ticketing system, covering more than 200 transport companies and 16 fare systems. At the end of 2020, the lezzgo app was discontinued.

In Switzerland, there are more than 200 licensed transport companies that are obliged by the Passenger Transport Act to mutually sell and recognize tickets. This regulation led to the introduction of direct traffic as a national fare. In addition, there are 15 fare and transport networks with differing rules. All these fare systems can be sold via a central national distribution system. The öV-Karte project introduced an electronic control system for the Swisspass on 1 August 2015, which can be used for all electronic tickets. This control element can be read by the inspection devices of all transport companies and is an element of the eTicketing apps developed in Switzerland since then. A second core element for digital distribution channels is the NOVA platform, which was put into operation in December 2016. This platform contains all fare systems. Users of individual transport can start and change journeys spontaneously. In public transport, passengers must decide in advance which route they want to take and buy a corresponding ticket. If the journey changes, users must exchange the existing ticket, which involves time and costs. Together with the very complicated fare system, public transport loses much of its attractiveness for occasional users. Earlier approaches such as the EasyRide project by SBB, PostAuto, and the Association of Public Transport (VöV) around 2000 required a smartcard and installations in vehicles. Other models such as the Oyster card use gates or check-in devices at stops or platforms. In both cases, investments and operating costs are significant. lezzgo was intended to be significantly cheaper in development and operation than these known technologies. Therefore, the app uses only the functions of modern smartphones (see working customer) as well as existing topology and timetable data. The development of the app was started in 2015 by BLS AG. After basic tests on the accuracy of smartphone sensors for route detection, prototype development began in autumn 2015. This prototype was used in a field test in the Libero fare network in the canton of Bern in February 2016. Based on positive feedback from users and the press, the management of BLS decided to develop a productive version of lezzgo and introduce it gradually in Switzerland. lezzgo was made available on 30 May 2016 as a closed user group app for iOS in the Libero fare network. From August 2016, open versions for iOS and Android were released. In September, the Passepartout fare network in the cantons of Lucerne, Nidwalden, and Obwalden was added; in October, Frimobil in the canton of Fribourg; and in December, Onde Verte in the canton of Neuchâtel. On 29 May 2017, the Mobilis fare network in the canton of Vaud joined. The national pilot lezzgoPLUS, which includes the national fare system alongside the networks, also started at the end of May 2017 as a closed user group. This enabled seamless travel with practically all Swiss transport companies. On 16 November 2017, the Strategic Committee of Direct Traffic (StAD) as the responsible national body approved the use of automatic ticket systems according to the standard developed in lezzgoPLUS from 1 January 2018. Since 10 January 2018, lezzgo was usable throughout Switzerland. Thus Switzerland was the first country with a national automatic ticketing system. It covers more than 200 transport companies and 16 fare systems. At the end of 2020, the lezzgo app was discontinued. lezzgoPLUS: A Switzerland-wide use was tested in the lezzgo PLUS project with a limited user group. Use was limited to routes with stops within Switzerland. Routes such as Brig-Domodossola were not included because Domodossola is in Italy.

• 2020

  At the end of the year, the lezzgo app was discontinued.

• 2018

  Since 10 January, lezzgo was usable throughout Switzerland.

• 2017

  Mobilis fare network joined on 29 May.

• 2017

  National pilot lezzgoPLUS started at the end of May as a closed user group.

• 2017

  On 16 November, StAD approved automatic ticket systems according to the lezzgoPLUS standard from 1 January 2018.

• 2016

  Prototype used in a field test in the Libero fare network in the canton of Bern in February.

• 2016

  lezzgo made available on 30 May as a closed user group app for iOS in the Libero fare network.

• 2016

  Open versions for iOS and Android released from August.

• 2016

  Passepartout fare network added in September.

• 2016

  Frimobil fare network added in October.

• 2016

  Onde Verte fare network added in December.

• 2015

  Development of the app started by BLS AG.

• 2015

  Prototype development began in autumn.

Spontaneous, hassle-free public transport ticketing for occasional users in Switzerland.

• lezzgo app

  Mobile ticketing app for spontaneous public transport travel with automatic check-in/check-out and best-price billing.

• lezzgoPLUS

  National pilot extending lezzgo to the national fare system, enabling seamless travel with practically all Swiss transport companies.

1. 1lezzgo.ch - was wichtig isch, jetztlezzgo.ch
2. 2Wikidata: lezzgowikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia: Lezzgode.wikipedia.org