As with many other romantic notions in New York City, the precious travel pass for all five boroughs, a golden ticket, of sorts — the MetroCard — is about to be a relic.
Whether you’re a sucker for old times, stubbornly swiping your card as the turnstile screen yells, “swipe again” or “see agent,” or you switched to ApplePay five years ago, joining the 21st century next week, according to the MTA, is the only choice.
It’s true, after subway tokens were retired, getting only 30 years with swipeable plastic doesn’t seem like enough time.
More than 90% of subway and bus rides already use contactless payment, according to transit officials. Ditching the MetroCard saves the MTA at least $20 million each year, the agency says. So after tossing a handful of MetroCards into an old box for the grandkids to sell on eBay in 80 years, here’s what you need to know about riding the subway.
A collection of four New York subway tokens. Credit: Getty Images/Blank Archives
Can I still use my MetroCard?
Dec. 31 is the last day to buy or refill a MetroCard. After that, riders are required to use contactless payment. That means tapping your phone, a contactless debit or credit card or an OMNY card.
But riders can still use existing MetroCards at the turnstiles after Dec. 31, as the MTA says their “final acceptance date will be announced at a later time.”
Riders should spend down the value on their MetroCards before they expire, the agency says, but customers can transfer value to an OMNY card at various customer service centers or Mobile Sales vehicles.
How do I ride the subway as a modern person?
The future is OMNY, the contactless fare system for the MTA. That means you have to use Apple Pay on your smartphone or Apple Watch, a contactless debit or credit card, or a physical OMNY card.
The good news is if you take 12 rides on New York City public transit within a 7-day period, or spend $35, the rest of your rides for the remainder of that week are free. The trick is to use the same smart device, credit or debit card, or OMNY card.
Free transfers within a two-hour period still apply with OMNY, so long as you use the same payment method. If you ride the subway from Penn Station to the Upper West Side for a quick cup of coffee, then take a cross-town bus to the Met, you won’t pay twice.
What if I don’t have a smartphone or left my credit card at home?
If you still use a flip phone, lost your bank cards, or are a teenager sneaking into the city for a show at Curtis Sliwa’s favorite venue, Under the K Bridge, and don’t want your parents tracking your location, you can use a physical OMNY card.
The MTA is selling those sleek, black-and-white cards at various station vending machines and select Walgreens, CVS and 7-Eleven stores. Retail locations, including several in Hempstead, are listed at omny.info/retail-locations.
The OMNY fare payment system for New York City’s public transportation is shown on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
nyOMNY250714 Credit: Newsday/Reggie Lewis
Riders can track their trips and progress to the 7-day free ride cap using an OMNY account. Register at omny.info/register.
Can I use OMNY on NICE buses?
Riders can soon use OMNY on the Nassau Inter-County Express, or NICE. The bus system says it will accept OMNY methods beginning next month — five years later than originally planned — allowing passengers to get free transfers to and from MTA buses and subways. NICE trips will also be counted toward the 7-day fare cap.