After the Oyster card comes the Eros card. Some people, notably at London's City Hall, will note the irony of the Evening Standard adopting an idea first developed by a mayor, Ken Livingstone, whose transport policies it has so often criticised.
But so what? A good idea is a good idea wherever it comes from. And this is certainly the kind of pioneering innovation that could help to stabilise the Standard's sales after the year-long assault on its circulation by the freesheets.
Cashless purchasing for casual newspaper-buying has never been tried in Britain before and I don't think it has been attempted anywhere else in the world. So let's praise what appears to be a good idea (full disclosure: I write a weekly column in the Standard).
One of the card's great advantages is that it enables add-ons, such as iTunes, as Stephen Brook reports. It may even herald the end of cover mounted promotions. Goodies can be downloaded in future.
The Standard's owners, Associated, have certainly given rivals, not least News International, something to think about.
