BRIGG AND BROUGHTON BUSES: HISTORIC HORNSBYS EMBRACES NEW TECHNOLOGY

People in the Brigg area can now take advantage of 21st century technology on offer from North Lincolnshire's oldest travel company.
Ashby-based family firm Hornsbys has been running local buses for more than 100 years.
It has moved with the times and is now welcoming swipe-card payments on the No 4 and X4 services in provides between Brigg, Scawby Brook and Scunthorpe, the former also picking up passengers in Castlethorpe, Wressle and Broughton.
The option to pay by card, rather than tendering notes or coins to the driver, was introduced early this month.
Contactless payments are becoming increasingly popular across the UK, with many folk in Brigg and district now preferring them to cash when purchasing goods and services up to £30.
Shops and pubs in Brigg reflect a growing trend that's sweeping the retail world.
The customer receives a printed receipt confirming how much has been charged to the card, the money being removed from your bank account within a few days.
If, like us, you still prefer to pay by cash for a return ticket between Brigg and Scunthorpe, Hornsbys now provides a larger ticket that includes a barcode at the bottom.
This needs to be placed on a machine beside the driver when you enter the bus to begin your return trip.
So the contactless age has a slight downside, generating more paper through larger bus tickets and receipts that are given to customers visiting shops, pubs and other businesses.
Nationally, we are wondering when the contactless payment limit will be extended. You don't get much for 30 quid these days!
When Arthur Hornsby, the founding father, first began running buses early in the 20th century, £30 was a sizeable sum - equivalent to about £3,000 today.
Read how the company started in 1914 through this link...
Although folk over 60 are sometimes reluctant to accept new technology, Brigg Blog has to admit admiration for the way contactless card payments have speeded things up on the London Underground.
On a trip to the capital late last year, we followed the lead of local Londoners and placed our contactless card on a pad at the ticket entry gate to the platform.
When we got off after a "Tube" ride across the capital, we had the card ready and the barrier opened.
The clever system worked out how many Underground zones we'd passed through and charged our account accordingly.
This was a big improvement on the traditional method, queueing to buy a ticket from a booth or using one of the ticket machines on the forecourt.
Yes, you can (sometimes) teach on old dog new tricks!
Maybe we'll be tempted to try contactless on a future bus trip from Brigg with Hornsbys.
It saves the trouble of having to count out cash and have it ready for the driver.