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

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