MyCicero allows people to perform a number of travel-related operations in Rome and elsewhere in Italy, including parking and buying train tickets. This article, however, covers only one operation – buying a 100-minute public transport for Rome’s public transportation system.
Preferably do this before you arrive in Rome as it can sometimes be a bit tricky, and you really don’t want to be standing on a street corner trying to set it up – and definitely don’t board public transport until you’ve actually successfully purchased a ticket.
Step 1: download the MyCicero app
Download and install MyCicero:
The language of the app should automatically set itself to the language of your phone’s operating system.
Step 2: add a card
Add your credit/debit card. Try to set it up before you leave so you can ensure your card is properly registered with the app.
Sometimes the app rejects cards for some unknown reason, in which case your only recourse is to try another card.
Step 3: buy a ticket
Open the app and navigate through the following options
TRAVEL > Do you already know what to buy? > ATAC – Roma > BIT-100 €1.50
Choose how many tickets you want (at least one), then hit the button marked Acquista il Titolo (for some reason not translated) and complete the purchase.
The ticket you have bought will give you 100 minutes on the public transport system, including as many tram and bus rides as you want, but only one Metro ride.
Step 4: activate a ticket
When you are ready to board your public transport method, you must activate a ticket in the app. You must do this before you board, otherwise you will be deemed to be traveling without a ticket and subject to a fine. You may think that you can get away with fare jumping, but trust us from bitter experience there are more inspectors than you think.
To activate a ticket go back to the homepage of the app, choose My Tickets then Go to the Ticket on the BIT-100 ticket you bought (or any of them if you bought more than one) and click it.
You then activate it by clicking the relevant button under TO BE ACTIVATED for the first means of transport you’re getting on – Bus (also including trams or Metro line C), Subway (lines A or B), or Train (lines to Ostia or Viterbo).
When you activate it, you will see a QR code appear. This can be shown to a ticket inspector or for entry into the Metro system.
Conclusion
It’s not the most user-friendly app in the world but once you’ve gone through the above steps once it will become clearer, and you can then also use the app for purchase of other transport-related items throughout Italy.
