Fares & Passes

Say hello to the new contactless payment platform from Rider Transit. 

With your digital Rider Pass, you can pay fares with your smartphone or with a smartcard. Plus, your digital Rider Pass has all kinds of cool features and benefits, so you can: 

The digital Rider Pass by way of the Umo mobile app is an excellent addition to your smartphone to pay for your trips with ease! Of course, cash fares are still available if you choose to pay that way.

Load and Go: The digital Rider Pass offers a convenient new way to ride the bus by allowing you to load money or bus passes either through the Umo mobile app or onto a Rider Pass smartcard and pay as you ride. Just scan the code from your smartphone at the reader on the bus or tap your smartcard for quick, easy boarding. 

Fare Caps: With the new digital Rider Pass, fixed route passengers will never pay more than the monthly cap no matter how many times you ride! The system automatically tracks your rides so you don’t have to. Once you spend $40 ($20 reduced fare) within a month, you can ride the rest of that month for free. 

To get started, first choose to use either your Umo mobile app or the Rider Pass smartcard you purchased from Rider Transit Customer Service. Then follow the simple steps below.

For Umo mobile app

1. Download the free Umo mobile app
   
2. Register your account to protect your cash balances, passes and transfers in the event that your mobile device is lost, damaged or stolen!
3. Buy transit passes with a tap.
4. Scan your app’s QR code at the reader when you board the bus.
5. One free transfer will automatically be added to your account.
6. Enjoy the ride!

For smartcard

1. Visit the Customer Service window at the Rider Transit Center to get your smartcard. New and replacement cards cost $2.00. 
2. Register your account online to protect your cash balances, passes and transfers in the event that your smartcard is lost, damaged or stolen!
3. Load the card with bus passes or cash value. You can also load your card by visiting the Customer Service window at the Rider Transit Center.
4. Tap your smartcard at the reader when you board the bus.
5. One free transfer will automatically be added to your account.
6. Enjoy the ride!

Want to learn more? Check out our new Rider Pass Digital Fare Payments FAQs!
Download .PDF

What is Rider Pass digital fare payment?
Rider Pass digital fare payment is our new convenient contactless payment system. It allows you to purchase a pass or load cash into your account and then use your smartphone or smartcard to pay your fare as you ride. You can download the free Umo mobile app to your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play or purchase a Rider Pass smartcard at the Rider Transit Center Customer Service window.   

What are some of the features and benefits of the new digital Rider Pass?

The new digital Rider Pass has a lot of smart features so you can travel the way you like!

What can I do with the Umo mobile app?
The Umo app is your travel companion, letting you buy contactless transit passes and with a tap pay your fare as you board the bus. Once you register your mobile device and create an account in the Umo app, you can start loading funds and pay your fare by showing the validation code from the Umo app home screen to the code reader on your bus.

Do I have to use the Umo app?
No. A cash option will remain available to you if you don’t use the Umo app. You can also choose to use the digital Rider Pass smartcard, which is available at the Rider Transit Center Customer Service window.

How do I pay my fare using the Umo app?
You can view the specific types of transit passes offered by Rider Transit by selecting the Buy button on the main screen. If Rider Transit products are not displayed, or you want to load cash, tap the city name displayed at the top of the Home screen and search for Concord, then select Charlotte, NC. Load funds or passes for use on Rider Transit and then select the validation code option on the main screen and scan that QR code at the reader when you board the bus.

I’m a Reduced Fare rider. How do I get my account to display Reduced Fare passes as an option for purchase?
Reduced Fare customers will need to visit the Customer Service Window at the Rider Transit Center to have their account designated as reduced fare.

I’m an ADA Paratransit rider. How do I get my account to display ADA Paratransit passes as an option for purchase?
ADA Paratransit customers will need to call the Transit ADA Coordinator at 704-920-5876 or visit the Customer Service Window at the Rider Transit Center to have their account designated as reduced fare.

Are transfers still free?
Yes. A transfer may be used for any Rider Transit bus on any route. The digital Rider Pass automatically stores and tracks transfers, so there’s no need to ask your driver for one. You WILL need to request a paper transfer pass from your driver if you plan on transferring to a CATS bus or light rail. 

I just purchased a pass, when can I use it?
All passes or loaded cash are posted instantly to your account and can be used immediately after your purchase has been completed.

I just used my digital Rider Pass on a bus. When will the fare payment be posted to my account?
In most cases, your fare payment will be posted instantly to your account. Simply look under your account Transaction History.

I just used my digital Rider Pass on a bus. When will the fare payment be posted to my account?
In most cases, your fare payment will be posted instantly to your account. Simply look under your account Transaction History.

What if I have a Rider Pass smartcard and want to start using the Umo app?
When you download and open the Umo app for the first time, enter your existing Rider Pass smartcard number to replace the card with the Umo app. Your cash balance, passes, transfer rights and transaction history will all be preserved since those are part of your account. Once you begin using the Umo app, your smart card is no longer usable.

How can I check my account to see my passes or stored value?
Only users with registered accounts can check their balances. Once you have an account, you can check your balances the following ways:

How do I add or change my personal information in my digital Rider Pass account?
Smartcard: You can add or change personal information in your account. Login to your account, scroll down to the bottom of the page and under the My Account section in the grey page footer, select the Contact Info link. Type in the new information in the appropriate field(s) then click on the Save Contact Info button.

Umo mobile app: If you’re using the Umo mobile app, you can add or change personal information by selecting the My Account option on the menu (three bars in the upper corner of the app), then selecting Update Profile. Type in the new information in the appropriate field(s) then click on the Save Contact Info button.

You can also have your personal information updated by calling Rider Transit Center Customer Service at 704-920-7433 (TDD: 800-735-2962). 

What is fare capping?
Fare capping is a benefit in which fixed route passengers will never have to pay more than the cost of a monthly pass within a month. Once a passenger spends $40 (or $20 reduced fare) within a  month, that passenger can ride the rest of the 31-day period for free. 

What is Autoload?
Autoload is an optional service that will automatically reload a pass or cash when your account has a pass nearing expiration, your pass is low on trips or you’re running low on cash. You can activate the autoload feature through your mobile app or online. You will also have to add a stored debit or credit card in your profile to use this feature. 

If you are using your phone or smartcard to pay your fare to board the bus, a free transfer pass will automatically be loaded into your account. This transfer pass may be used to transfer to any Rider Transit bus on any route. (Please note, you will need to ask your driver for a paper transfer pass if you plan to transfer to a CATS bus or light rail, as CATS does not accept the digital Rider Pass.)

If you are paying with cash to board the bus and need a transfer pass to complete your trip on a connecting bus, request a transfer pass from the driver when you pay your fare on the first bus. When you board your connecting bus, scan the transfer pass at the digital reader. A paper transfer pass may be used to transfer to any Rider Transit bus on any route or to a CATS bus or light rail .

A Reduced Fare ID Card is required for all discount rates. Be prepared to show your Reduced Fare ID Card to receive the discount. Qualified individuals (persons with disabilities, senior citizens 65 and older, Medicare card holders with photo ID, current students with a valid school ID and proof of enrollment, and military veterans) can obtain a Reduced Fare ID Card application through one of the following ways:

• Print and mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form or bring the form to the Rider Transit Center Customer Service Office.
• Visit the Rider Transit Center Customer Service Office at 45 Transit Ct NW, Concord, NC 28025.

Keep your Rider passes, cards, and IDs in good condition so they can be read by the fare box. Don’t bend them or get them wet, and keep them away from high heat and out of the sun. All pass cards, transfers and IDs are non-transferable, cannot be shared, and are non-refundable. Misuse of Rider fare media may result in your pass being deactivated.