Managing MetroCard balances effectively with new tools

metrocard

I write about transit at times here; it’s generally top of mind for me given my regular commuting. But a number of subway-related links have fallen into my drafts folder over the past few months, so for the time being Sundays are going to be dubbed “Subway Sundays” and I’ll be sharing some cool stuff around it.

This week’s post revolves around the unnecessarily complex math that has sometimes been needed to zero out a MetroCard, which is used to pay for subway rides. Fares are generally round enough – until last week they were $2.50, and just increased to $2.75 – but when you put money on your card, bonuses are also applied which don’t always line up. Continue reading

New York City ain’t getting any younger

you-dont-know-jack-subway

New York City’s charm is in part forged by its history, and some of the older elements that march on with time.  However, there’s a flip side to aging infrastructure, and that is that things are still in place long after their intended life, and have an increasing proclivity to breakdown or otherwise have problems. Continue reading

Get subway information, on the go

 

The MTA has not generally been known for being technologically advanced, although it’s hard to fault an organization that relies on equipment and infrastructure whose age can sometimes be marked with three digits in the years column.  That said, occasionally we get a glimpse of what progress can bring, and one such example just recently made its debut on the app store in a beta release. Continue reading

Where are all the M8s?

A picture I took of an M8 at Stamford station at a time when I saw them much more often.

Metro-North Railroad is in the middle of replacing its older train cars with a model called the M8, manufactured by Kawasaki. They include such features as pre-recorded audio with station stop announcements (and matching signage), higher headrests one every seat (and easier grips for people to be able to safely move about), and other technology advancements that come with redesigning a train car 40 years after the last major redesign.

The only problem is, I’m having trouble finding them. Continue reading