Why is the London Oyster card called Oyster?

Andrew McCrum, who was brought in to find a name by Saatchi and Saatchi Design, said of the name: “Oyster was conceived because of the metaphorical implications of security and value in the hard bivalve shell and the concealed pearl.

What is the meaning of Oyster card?

The Oyster card is a payment method for public transport in London (and certain areas around it) in the United Kingdom. Oyster cards can hold period tickets; travel permits and; most commonly, credit for travel (“Pay as you go”), which must be added to the card before travel.

What is an Oyster card London?

Oyster cards An Oyster card is a smart card that you add money to, so you can pay as you go. You can pay as you go to travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, most TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line and Thames Clippers River Bus services.

Who invented the Oyster card?

The professor who spent 30 years developing the technology behind Oyster cards and other e-money smartcards says he doesn’t earn a penny in royalties. Jim Scott, of St Andrews University, is the brain behind what is now a £100 million global industry, but the patents for the nano-memories he pioneered have expired.

When did Oyster cards start in London?

30 June 2003
In the ten years since Oyster was publically launched on 30 June 2003, around 60 million cards have been issued and over 85 percent of all rail and bus travel in London is paid for using an Oyster card.

Is Oyster card only for London?

Oyster cards are only useable within the TFL zones and down to Gatwick. No Oyster Card is a London specific product and can only be used on National Rail services in the Greater London area plus a few specific routes outside.

Are Oyster cards still valid?

Oyster cards can be used across all TfL services and there are more than 63 million cards currently in use. On top of that, there are more than 41 million ‘dormant’ cards (which haven’t been used in the last 12 months).

Do people still use Oyster cards in London?

Fast forward to 2019 and payments with contactless bank cards or mobile phones now make up 60\% of all Tube and rail pay-as-you-go journeys in London. This is the equivalent of around 21 million journeys a week. The remaining 40\% still use Oyster.

Are they phasing out Oyster cards?

However, TfL has no plans to phase the Oyster card out. “This is because there will always be customers, such as children or those who need to manage their finances more carefully, who will benefit from the card,” says Tuckett.