BillAv

It's obvious what happened. I agree with the "old timers" statement. I would add that they're probably furious that it happens, but they're running out the clock and won't do anything to jeopardize that. The people who are looking at 30 years till retirement are more likely to take action at fare beating - but what can they do? I'm sure that the official MTA policy is "bend over and take it"

I'm going to concede. I was going to say that there was no reason that fare capping couldn't have been implemented in an earlier stage, but what do I know? Based on the performance of the MTA app, I assume that they must have hired the programming team that worked on Duke Nukem Forever.

It's been over two years since the system went online. If they wanted to cap, it would have been ready day one. Two years and counting means they don't want to do it. We've been told that the system is secure enough for pay-as-you-go fares (not to mention linking ONMY to your credit card on their website), but not secure enough for capping? Reconfiguring the system would involve reprogramming all those "vending machines"? I'm sure that when the fare is raised to $3 or $3.50, reprogramming will be easy as pie. With that said, I've been using OMNY for the past two weeks. I've got a few scattered days off this month, so I'll come out ahead if I only take the subway to commute. No issues with tapping in or double charges so far. The only issue I ran into was when I intentionally kept my watch away from the reader to see how close I had to get for it to be read. I got a message saying that I had to tap in again. I got two alerts from my CC provider saying that I had been charged (I get auto alerts), but when I checked online, only one had been posted. So thumbs up, so far.

Weird video. Wouldn't "reprogramming all those vending machines" - as he put it - just be pressing a button somewhere? Unless Cubic charges more to implement fare-capping. Maybe the MTA paid for the bronze package, and fare-capping is in the sliver package.

I wouldn't doubt that this is kind of true; they enabled fare capping without telling anyone as part of a beta test. No one is going to complain if they don't get charged. The only people who probably know about it are certain MTA employees. My guess is the person who tweeted this assumed that it was common knowledge. I might go for this if they make an official announcement on the OMNY site.

So why not stick with Metrocard? Especially since you're having so many issues with OMNY?

I agree with the $5 charge for the card; many people would throw it away instead of refilling it. With that said, I can't imagine that anyone would buy one at this time. It offers nothing for the customer that isn't being addressed better by a MetroCard, a smart device or a contactless credit card.

No Unlimited, no OMNY. I had originally wanted OMNY for the novelty of using my watch to get on the train. I use it to pay for just about everything now, so the novelty has worn off. For the past year and a half, I really wanted it to avoid this situation: Typical subway occurrence I joke a little with that link title, but the truth is that I don't feel safe in the subway. As I walk into any station, I always have "something could happen" in the back of my mind. It would be nice if I could get in without taking out my wallet.

Excellent point. So, since farebeating has been at an all time high with no way to stop it, the MTA will possibly have to eliminate the unlimited fare option to help make up the difference. Sad, but understandable. However, if they don't get rid of the unlimited MetroCard options, then it makes no sense not to add it to OMNY. Yes, that's why no one was hopping. Next time you get off at Hudson Yards, leave by the 35th Street exit. Maybe around 4pm.

I really hate hearing about the MTA's revenue stream issues when I see nothing done about rampant fare beating. Has there been a promotion for the past year where construction workers ride for free at the Hudson Yards entrance on 35th Street? How about the A/C/E entrance on 35th and 8th? How about any entrance in the system without a booth where one guy jumps the turnstile and opens the gate for his five buddies?

So, Unlimited OMNY by the end of the year, maybe. Disappointing. I guess that it's best to wait to get it right, especially where money is concerned, but it seems like that this testing and app development could have been done while the OMNY installation was going on. But what do I know? And this whole uncertainty about the unlimited fare has me a little stumped. I get the frustration that the MTA must have when they see someone swipe themselves in, and then pass the card to someone who waits the 20 or so minutes to get in. Or when people leave the system then swipe someone in because, hey, it doesn't cost me anything. It reminds me of an analogy that Fake Steve Jobs (Dan Lyons) make about the iTunes Store back in the day. Why would the record labels insist on DRM'ing legal downloads when illegal downloads are readily available? It's like a store locking the front door when the window is smashed in. Why would you restrict unlimited OMNY when unlimited MetroCards exist?

I think they may announce OMNY supporting reduced fares and the like. I don't think Unlimited is on the table. It's never mentioned. Hope I'm wrong.

Do you have inside information? On a related note, the OMNY site has a link to a poll. One of the first questions is about OMNY usage, i.e. what would it take for you to use it. Then it goes into how often you rode pre-pandemic, how much you ride now, etc. I encourage anyone who wants unlimited fares to take the survey. Transit survey They also have questions regarding subway safety, which I appreciated.

Not to put down the speed in which OMNY was completed (I was amazed that they did it so quickly), but I think it's like comparing apples to oranges. OMNY built on to what already existed - existing turnstiles and electrical hookups - in essence a retrofit. Going from tokens to MetroCards needed a whole new infrastructure.

Any word on how soon the fare options might be rolled out? It doesn't make financial sense to drop my Metrocard until this happens. I also like the flexibility of the unlimited card. I make my own transfer points; instead of taking a train a couple of stops out of the way to make a transfer, I'll leave the system and walk a block or two. I take shortcuts through the subway; my favorite being able to enter the Port Authority on 9th Avenue (pre-pandemic) and walking to Times Square completely indoors. Great on bad weather days. Sometimes I leave a staton through the wrong turnstile and realize that I'll have to cross a busy street (like Queens Blvd) to get where I'm going. Nope! I swipe back in and leave the way I meant to. Can't go OMNY until this happens - unless Unlimited gets dropped entirely.