With Z-CARD you won't miss the bus (or train or plane!)

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Z-CARD® easily grasped the distinctive communication needs of the transport business and in a few years has provided over 30 million PocketMedia® cards for a wide range of transport systems. These cards creatively feature items of relevance for the everyday commuter such as bus routes, underground maps, terminal layouts, web drivers and even ticketing systems. The information is all neatly contained in a handy pocket-sized card that can be kept on-person in a purse or pocket.

Just one example of cards designed and produced internationally was for a “travel safely at night” campaign for Transport for London (TfL) A series of informative cards containing effective safety tips when traveling by bus, train or taxi at night were produced. Each card also contained information on route timetables, contact details, maps and various other public services.

Commuter transport and travel safety in particular, is currently, and will remain for some time, a hot topic in this country. With new public transport systems coming into place and 2010 just around the corner, transport is top of mind for many of us.

With this in mind, the Department of Transport will soon launch a new bus transport system. The world class transport system, called Bus Rapid Transit or BRT, is expected to be implemented in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Tshwane and the Nelson Mandela Metro. “We are going” or Rea Vaya is the name given to the Johannesburg system under which it is proposed that busses will run in exclusive, dedicated lanes in the centre of existing roads with smaller feeder buses expected to bring people on the outer areas to the trunk routes.

Bearing in mind that potential commuters will need to be educated on the scheme, Rea Vaya commissioned Z-CARD® to produce 500 000 cards to effectively communicate the workings and advantages of the new system. “Z-CARD® was the preferred method of communication for our education period as it provides an attractive and durable tool to inform our potential users. The cards are more interesting than the standard flyer and will make a longer lasting impression which speaks to the kind of quality service which we will be offering.” Megan Cameron, Communications Manager, Kagiso TV & Communications.

In terms of transportation solutions, the Z-CARD® can also be used for ticketing systems. Regardless of the ticketing technology utilized by the transport provider (magnetic strips, contactless cards or other technology), the Z-CARD® can form an integral part of the solution. A 2-power pocket Z-CARD® was recently produced for the Moscow Underground. One pocket was designed for the underground ticket and the other for a coupon book. The ticket could be sensor scanned at the gates to allow the commuter through the gates without the ticket being removed from the power pocket. The insert contained an underground map, important telephone numbers, and a guide to shopping in the underground.

Z-CARD® has also produced cards for numerous local transport organizations - Metrorail, Durban People Mover, Intercape, One Time and Transnet to mention just a few.

2010 is expected to bring an influx of foreigners. These visitors and indeed many locals will require information on all of our local transport systems. What better way to communicate routes, timetables and other relevant information than the unique, compact and retainable Z-CARD®

To find out more about Z-CARD® visit www.zcard.com or contact Lyn Davis on Cell: 082 456 1676 or Tel: 0861 092273.