How To Buy A Subway Pass In Nyc ((HOT))
The MetroCard is a thin, credit-card sized farecard made of (cheap) plastic. It has been the farecard for the subway for many decades, but is being replaced by the new contactless OMNY system mentioned earlier. The MetroCard machines will disappear completely by the end of 2023, but you can still use the MetroCard until early 2024. You might still want to read this section as the MetroCard has some advantages that OMNY does not yet have. Most of the time, the card looks like this (front and back):
how to buy a subway pass in nyc
The back of the card has what I call a physical expiration date which is usually set pretty far in the future. This physical expiration date is fixed and indicates the time when the card becomes unusable and must be exchanged for another one at a subway booth. This physical expiration date has nothing to do with the value and time on the card, so don't confuse this date with the expiration of an Unlimited Ride window (which I will explain that later). This physical expiration date is merely there to force old cards out of rotation.
The regular MetroCard (also known as a Pay-Per-Ride card) carries a real dollar value that decreases every time you take the subway (hence "pay per ride"). You can keep on adding value to the card whenever your balance runs low. The fee to buy the card itself is $1 and is not refundable. This $1 cannot be used to pay for rides (and is therefore not reflected in the balance).
Sorry, there aren't any single-day or weekend passes. If you think you are going to make more than 12 individual trips (a very likely scenario for tourists staying more than two days), buying a 7-Day Unlimited Ride card will be cheaper than paying 12 times.
A card can carry "time ", "value", or both. In other words, you can add a dollar value to an Unlimited Ride card or buy time to an existing Pay-Per-Ride card. When this happens, the time portion always takes precedence when you swipe it at a turnstile (it will activate the time window as necessary). After the time portion of the card has expired, it will then (and only then) start draining the value of your card. This also implies that you cannot use this card with multiple people as a second swipe on the card will be denied as "Just used" despite the card carrying monetary value in addition. Lastly, MetroCards can be refilled. Provided that the physical expiration date on the back of the card has not passed, you can reload a new Unlimited Ride time window or just money onto an expired or empty card.
The small one on the left does not accept cash, whereas the large machines on the right accept both cash and credit cards. While each subway station is guaranteed to have these machines, not every entrance to a subway station gives you access to them. If you enter the station but do not see these machines, simply go out and find another nearby entrance to the same station.
Our subway system is the largest and busiest in North America. There are 493 stations on 25 routes, spread along 693 miles of track. The subway operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Riding the subway is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get around the city. For most riders, the subway fare is $2.75. Reduced fares are available for people 65 and older, people with disabilities, and low-income New Yorkers. Learn more about fares.
Masks are now optional for customers on our subways, buses, and commuter rail. We encourage riders to continue to wear masks throughout our public transit system. Please respect other riders' choices.
The New York subway system can be a bit intimidating at first, and the locals do rush around so you might feel the pressure of someone right behind you in line getting ever more impatient.Riding the subway with New York MetroCardWhile planning your NYC trip, make sure to get a NYC subway map - Download a Free Subway Map here >>
For many decades the New York City subway system had a reputation for being dirty and dangerous. The famous graffiti is long gone, but the stations and carriages sometimes still do suffer from people unable to find the abundant station trashcans.
The New York subway (Metro) is the most used means of transportation among New Yorkers. Subway is an easy and safe way to travel anywhere in New York City. The New York Subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, year-round. With a MetroCard, a single ride costs US$2.75 and is, therefore, one of the cheapest ways to explore the city.
To access the subway you can use a MetroCard (which you fill with money or can purchse a weekly pass) or with the new OMNY system which with a tap charges the $2.75 fare to your credit card through a contactless card of a e-wallet.
Or you can use an e-wallet like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. Make sure as you hold your phone or smart watch near the reader. Ideally, you have data on your phone, but if not, every subway station has free wifi..
However, if you are good with maps and want to shave a few minutes off your ride, you can refer to the subway map where local stations are marked with a black circle and express stops are marked with a white circle (obviously, local trains stop at the express stops as well) to see if the Express train makes sense for you on a case-by-case basis.
The NYC subway system is pretty old. Many stations in Manhattan are a century old or older (the first line opened in 1904, as we mentioned earlier). And with nearly 6 million passengers a day and a system that never stops running, there is a lot of wear-and-tear. Tracks need to be replaced, switches fixed, rats poisoned (no joke!), etc.
OK, if you got this far, you should now have the confidence to use the NYC subway without getting lost (at least, not completely). So in the last section of this post, we wanted to share with you a few tips that will make your subway experience more pleasant.
In New York City, the MetroCard can be purchased at any MTA Metro-North Railroad station ticket vending machine or staffed ticket windows. MetroCards can also be purchased from a MetroCard vending machine or staffed sales booths in New York City subway stations.
If you buy multiple rides with this card, the cost is $2.75/ride, otherwise a single ride is US$ 3. This card can be used by up to four people and you have access to unlimited transfers between subway and buses for 120 minutes. The minimum amount you can put on the card is US$ 5.50.
Purchasing a MetroCard is your first step to getting around on subways and buses; you must put a minimum value of $5.50 on the card, not including the card fee ($1), when initially buying it. You can do so at subway stations, from either automated machines (large machines accept cash, ATM bank cards and regular credit cards; the small machines do not accept cash) or booth attendants (cash only). If you already have a card, keep it and refill it to avoid paying a new card fee.
Only pets enclosed in containers or carriers are allowed on MTA buses, subways and trains, as well as in taxis. Properly harnessed service animals are also permitted on mass transit. Taxi drivers may, at their discretion, pick up passengers who have dogs without carry cases. The City is also home to several pet-taxi companies that can help transport pets, especially those that are not allowed on ordinary public transit.
The city attracts between 60 and 70 million tourists a year due to its diversity and liveliness, which have earned it the title of "cultural center of the world." Getting around the town may seem difficult for first-timers, especially when taking the subway. Therefore, here are 13 tips for them!
Using the NYC Subway (the largest and busiest subway system in the United States) can be formidable for first-time travelers. This article was updated and expanded with even more tips for what to watch out for and what to do when using the subway. Anyone visiting NYC is likely to use the system as it is the most convenient way to get about.
There are a few lines that cross above, though. However, tourists will mostly be moving underground. The secret is to pay attention to the signs that identify the subway lines that each station serves and the direction in which each train is traveling.
Modern subways contain light-up graphics that show which station tourists are on the route for. Older trains will not, though. Travelers should not be afraid because the conductor will always make clear which stop they are at and which station is coming up.
Travelers may see the many lines on the map in a variety of colors and counts. Therefore, they shall make sure they choose the appropriate subway line by letter or number since New Yorkers do not refer to the train lines by their colors.
There are two different card kinds available: an Unlimited Ride card and a normal Pay-Per-Ride card. If travelers buy the Unlimited 7-Day MetroCard, they are free to take the bus and metro as much as they choose and use the subway like a true New Yorker.
Travelers will notice that the majority of subway stations feature either a red or a green globe. These were originally put in place to inform passengers which stations are open 24/7, referred to with a green globe, and which stations are closed at night, marked with a red globe.
One of the best ways to pass the time on the subway is to play games on one's phone. Sometimes there might not be internet connectivity in the tunnels, so it's best to have a pre-downloaded game like Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Sudoku, or whatever one enjoys playing. It is surprising just how much faster the time goes by on the subway it is one has a distraction (a good old-fashioned book also works as well).
Maria is a travel passionate who loves to share her knowledge and experience with others to help them enjoy their planned excursion. Maria promotes initiatives that make the world a better place to live and enjoy!
With the Fair Fares NYC discount, eligible New York City residents ride certain transportation systems for half the regular price. Pay-Per-Ride fares, Access-A-Ride fares, 7-day unlimited passes, and 30-day unlimited passes are all available in Fair Fares NYC. 041b061a72