The article is either outdated or the author just didn’t bother to do their research. In Riga you don’t have to scan the QR code, you can just enter the vehicle number of the bus/tram etc. In Melbourne you can get Myki on your wallet app without any prepayment.

I absolutely hate the lyrics of it, “Oh poor me, I actually have to play/do what people like to be a performer”! Like duh!