In a major shift for public transport in Chapecó, a city in western Santa Catarina, cash payments on buses will gradually be eliminated beginning in the second half of March. The municipality has stated that this change was initiated at the request of Auto Viação Chapecó, the company responsible for the bus service. The company cited a decline in ridership making cash transactions challenging due to issues with providing change, contributing to delays and raising safety concerns for both passengers and drivers.

According to Instruction Normative 01/2025, the new payment framework will allow cash only for loading credits at service points, effectively transitioning the payment system to digital alternatives. Passengers will have several options for topping up their fare credits: they can load credits at service stations using pix (a digital payment system), cash, or debit cards; they may also purchase credits online via the bus company's website, which accepts payments by boleto; or utilize a mobile application to pay through pix. These changes aim to streamline operations and enhance the security of the public transit system.

Overall, this transition reflects a broader trend towards digital payments in public services in Brazil, responding to declining cash usage. It poses benefits such as reduced wait times for passengers and increased overall safety in the transit environment, yet it may also present challenges for users who are more accustomed to handling cash transactions. The city will need to ensure that adequate support and resources are available for all passengers to adapt to the new system effectively.