The misuse of the Tarjeta de Ciudadano de Oro (Golden Citizen card) in public transportation forced the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) to take measures.
According to the BCCR, many relatives and even acquaintances of seniors use the card regularly to access discounts. That is why now bus drivers will be able to require passengers to present their identity document (cedula) when paying the fare.
A reader will be placed on the bus, which will generate a yellow light on the screen and a particular sound, in case the system has doubts, authorizing the driver to ask the citizen to present his or her cedula to verify they are a senior.
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The Ciudadano de Oro card was implemented in 2022, is a payment method designed exclusively for people over 65 years of age who don’t pay for bus rides on routes under 25 km, a 50% discount on routes between 25 and 50 km, and a 25% discount on routes over 50 km.
Seniors do not pay fares on the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry and the Puntarenas-Naranjo ferry.
Public transport users should be aware that, according to the current scheme for defining public transport fares, this misuse of the card entails a higher cost for the rest of the users, since they are the ones who assume, in the payment of their fare, the discount given to senior citizens.
To date, there are more than 25,000 Golden Citizen cards issued since 2022, and it is designed with unique features such as its golden color and the inclusion of the holder’s photograph.
Despite these characteristics, authorities have detected that some people use the card without being the holders.
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