By tap-to-pay, I mean you need no special apps, you need no special accounts, any of that. You can pay with any physical credit or debit card that supports tap-

By tap-to-pay, I mean you need no special apps, you need no special accounts, any of that. You can pay with any physical credit or debit card that supports tap-to-pay, or you can use any credit or debit card you have loaded into your phone. With a QR code like that, people still need to install an app, set up an account, etc. It's just a lot more friction. In cities where I can tap-to-pay, getting set up to ride a bus or train for the first time takes literally zero time; I'm already set up. If I need anything special - apps, accounts, system-specific QR codes, etc - then the setup time instantly goes up to a minimum of 10 minutes. It's a relatively large barrier to entry for infrequent riders, and ultimately serves to discourage use of public transit.