Public Mobility 2026: Seamless, connected and data-driven public transport
Public transport is entering one of its most transformative phases, driven by rapid advances in digital payments, automation, real-time analytics, and multimodal mobility services. In 2026, the core technologies shaping public transport are no longer new or emerging. Account-based ticketing, open-loop EMV payments, real-time data platforms and digital passenger services have moved well beyond pilot phases. They are now considered standard components of modern mobility systems, used across networks of all sizes to improve efficiency, reduce costs and create a smoother travel experience.
Modernising fare collection: The technologies shaping 2026
The trends that shaped mobility in 2025 continue to guide how cities prepare for 2026. As noted in our earlier O-CITY blog, many travellers still face crowded vehicles, unclear information and outdated payment systems that push them back toward private cars. Improving accessibility is less about physical upgrades and more about giving every passenger confidence that their journey will be smooth and predictable.
Digital tools remain the most effective way to achieve this without major infrastructure changes. Contactless and mobile payments speed up boarding and give operators real-time insight into passenger behaviour. Live travel information reduces uncertainty and helps spread demand more evenly across the network. Segmentation tools allow agencies to tailor fares or incentives to groups such as commuters, students or tourists.
In O-CITY we view the following seven trends that will keep growing in 2026.
- Online booking/reservation on public transport
Online booking and reservation systems, one of the strongest trends of 2025, continue to reshape planning. Last year, O-CITY team covered this trend on our annual client conference in Bogota, Colombia, 2-4 December. In summary commuters gain peace of mind with guaranteed seats, while operators benefit from more accurate demand forecasting, all done online centrally.
- Account-based ticketing adoption by public transport operators
ABT has shifted from an emerging concept to a widely adopted modernization strategy. Visa’s latest urban mobility study shows strong growth: among agencies without open-loop systems, 83% plan to implement open-loop payments, with 70% intending to do so within two years. As another evidence, the UITP AFC transition report highlights ABT effect on simplification of fare structures and reduction of the cost of issuing physical cards. Real-time data becomes more accessible, helping cities deliver dynamic and responsive services.
Platforms such as O-CITY is a cloud-based technology with ABT principles that help to eliminate the need for large hardware investments—an important advantage for mid-sized and emerging cities seeking cost-effective modernization.
- Transition from closed-loop to open-loop schemes will be more common
Transition from Closed-loop to open-loop schemes or choice of initial open-loop acceptance implementation will continue to see traction in 2026. Contactless payments with EMV cards, phones or wearables prove its value: Visa’s Reimagining Ridership research found early adopters often see ridership increases of 6% (and mature deployments up to 10%). The same study reported that a large share of agencies without open-loop intend to adopt it in the next two years — signalling a clear industry momentum. Open-loop reduces boarding friction, lowers vending-machine and cash handling costs, and helps make multimodal journeys easier to use.
- Multimodal transit systems becoming the norm
Studies from the MaaS Alliance and OECD/ITF show that multimodal transport is becoming standard. Cities keep rethinking public transport as a connected network rather than a collection of separate services. Multimodal mobility now accounts for 10–12% of urban trips (up from 7–8% in 2024), and shared mobility is growing at 20–30% per year in many OECD cities.
Micro-mobility options like e-bikes, scooters, and community shuttles continue to grow worldwide. The OECD/ITF Measuring New Mobility report highlights these services as essential for first- and last-mile connectivity.
- Mobility-as-a-service moving toward wider adoption
MaaS requires integrated journey planning, real-time information, unified wallets, and transparent settlement. Global examples like Helsinki’s mobile app (Whim) pilot show that multimodal subscriptions and unified payments increase engagement and reduce reliance on private cars.
MaaS depends on all capable account-based open-loop platforms with user friendly interfaces, rich functionality, scalability. As cities seek simpler travel and more efficient operations, similar models are likely to expand by 2026.
- Digital payment ecosystems to be more transport-inclusive
Banks, merchants and transport operators are converging: cities are starting to view transport as part of the broader payments ecosystem rather than an isolated industry. O-CITY’s work with Banco Pichincha in Ecuador is a good example — a transit prepaid card powered by the bank and O-CITY’s cloud tech that works for transport and retail, and can be upgraded toward broader financial inclusion goals. These kinds of partnerships make it easier to onboard unbanked users, create retail value, and link transport into city-wide digital payment flows.
- Smarter operations through cloud, AI and real-time data
One of the biggest shifts in public transport is happening behind the scenes, as agencies move from static planning to agile, data-driven operations.
Cloud platforms enable fast configuration of fare rules and rapid onboarding of new operators; layered on that, AI and real-time analytics promise tangible operational gains (predictive maintenance, passenger-flow forecasting, anomaly detection). UITP’s AI brief documents many practical uses — and notes that operators are already moving beyond proofs of concept to deploy AI for scheduling, demand forecasting and fault detection. Research by UITP shows predictive maintenance alone can cut unnecessary visits and improve fleet availability; combined with live demand data, agencies can move from fixed timetables to more responsive services. Expect AI and real-time dashboards to be a core part of operations by 2026.
The road ahead for integrated, digital-first public transport
As everyone make their first steps in 2026, cities and public transport operators should take into account the persisting technologies for their digital transformation. Account-based ticketing, open-loop EMV payments, multimodal travel options and real-time data platforms have moved into the mainstream, giving operators new ways to improve efficiency while delivering a smoother passenger experience.
The momentum behind these changes is strong. Commuters want fast, simple payments, clearer information and predictable journeys and digital tools make this possible without major infrastructure investment. At the same time, agencies are turning to cloud platforms, APIs and AI-driven analytics to streamline operations, optimise resources and respond more quickly to demand.
These developments are laying the foundation for seamless mobility ecosystems where different modes, operators and services work together as one. Cities that embrace ABT, open-loop acceptance, MaaS-ready platforms and smarter data use will be better positioned to increase ridership and reduce reliance on private cars.
The technology is already here. The opportunity now is to connect it and create public transport systems that are more accessible, efficient and future-ready.
Want to learn more about the future of public mobility? Contact O-CITY team today
