Eight trends reshaping payments in urban mobility

As cities swell and public transport usage evolves, agile and integrated payment systems are becoming pivotal to the future of urban mobility.

A new white paper from Worldline outlines eight transformative trends redefining how we pay to move.

With more than half of the global population now living in cities  – a figure set to rise to nearly 70% by 2050, according to the United Nations – the pressure on transportation infrastructure is immense.

While urban transport is central to daily life, it continues to trail other sectors in terms of customer-facing digital innovation, particularly in payments.

Changing commuter behaviours, accelerated by remote and hybrid work models, are fuelling the need for more flexible, digital-first payment options.

Meanwhile, the surge in contactless retail transactions has reset user expectations.

According to Statista, contactless transaction value is growing at double-digit rates globally, signalling a clear consumer appetite for speed, safety and simplicity.

Worldline’s white paper identifies the following eight trends as critical to shaping the future of mobility payments:

1. Expansion of Digital Payment Options
Legacy systems based on cash and proprietary smartcards are increasingly outmoded. The shift toward open-loop payments, allowing passengers to use bank-issued contactless cards and digital wallets, is gaining ground—driven by the demand for universal and intuitive experiences.

2. Growth of Multi-Modal and Integrated Ticketing
Unified platforms that enable seamless planning and payment across buses, trains, e-scooters and ride-sharing services are becoming the gold standard. These systems reduce friction, improve efficiency and reflect the blended nature of today’s urban journeys.

3. Rise of Pay-As-You-Go and Account-Based Ticketing (ABT)
As rigid commuter patterns give way to more fluid travel habits, PAYG and ABT models are empowering users with flexibility while offering transport authorities actionable data on usage patterns and peak demand.

4. Open Payments for Seamless Travel
By supporting contactless card payments directly at turnstiles and fare gates, open systems lower barriers for occasional riders and tourists, eliminating the need for dedicated transit cards and creating more inclusive mobility ecosystems.

5. Data-Driven Optimisation and Personalisation
Data analytics is enabling authorities to make smarter decisions—from route planning to dynamic pricing—while also delivering more tailored communications and promotional offers to riders.

6. The Evolving Role of Self-Service Terminals
Far from obsolete, physical kiosks are being modernised with touchscreens and contactless capabilities. These remain essential for digitally excluded users and continue to play a supporting role in comprehensive payment ecosystems.

7. Sustainability-Centred Payment Solutions
Environmental imperatives are being baked into payment systems. From loyalty schemes that reward eco-conscious choices to integrated carbon footprint trackers, payment technology is becoming an enabler of green transport behaviours.

8. Artificial Intelligence as a Strategic Enabler
AI is not just a buzzword—it’s being applied in customer service chatbots, predictive maintenance, security monitoring and network optimisation. Transportation authorities see more tangible near-term benefits in AI than in other emerging technologies.

Rémi Maeno, Head of Energy, Mobility and Self-Service at Worldline Merchant Services, noted that these trends underscore the need for agile, interoperable, and scalable systems.

“Transport authorities can reduce costs, increase ridership and shrink their environmental impact through modernised payment infrastructures designed around the user,” he said.

For mobility operators, success hinges not just on technology, but also on the strength of their partnerships.

Coordinated collaboration with banks and PSPs will be essential to minimise transaction costs and streamline settlement.

As mobility ecosystems evolve, payments are no longer just the final step in a journey – they are an enabler of smarter, greener and more equitable urban transport.