EasyCard

Credit card, ID, public transport card… Wallets are getting thicker and thicker and new cards hardly fit in them anymore. This problem does not exist in Taiwan, because they have EasyCard, which is also called Yoyo Card by locals. EasyCard is a contactless smart card that has been in use since 2002. Similar to the Octopus Card from Hong Kong, EasyCard was initially intended only for public transportation. Over time, cafes, restaurants, kiosks, department stores, supermarkets and even cabs joined in – this can all be payed for with an EasyCard. “The innovation never stops here at EasyCard Corp” – write the card’s inventors on their website. Here?s how it works: The card is linked to the user’s bank account and can be topped up automatically. Currently, the card can be used at all subway stops, on thousands of buses and in parking lots. It can be used to pay cell phone bills and visit libraries, sights, cinemas, parks, pharmacies and clinics – all with just one card. In Taiwan, you can forget your wallet at home if you have your EasyCard with you!