3 ms·

If they really wanted to fix this, the text would read "How many rides would you like to purchase ($2.50 per ride)". Of course, this only works if every ride is

If they really wanted to fix this, the text would read "How many rides would you like to purchase ($2.50 per ride)". Of course, this only works if every ride is $2.50.

uptown 12y ago
With a few exceptions (i.e. the Express Buss which costs $6), every ride is $2.50. http://web.mta.info/nyct/fare/FaresatAGlance.htm#info http://web.mta.info/nyct/fare/FaresatAGlance.htm#info
colinbartlett 12y ago
I think the whole point is that they don't want to fix this. It's probably specifically designed this way.
- ovi256 12y ago
  Sounds a lot like a dark pattern! If not dark, at least gray.
embolalia 12y ago
NYC Subway fares are always $2.50. Really, as confusing fares go, this is nothing compared to DC's Metro. At the top of the machine, above the head of anyone who can actually fit in the train, there's a massive listing of fares to each other station in the system (on and off peak, which are different). In order to fill your card perfectly, you need to know exactly which stations you'll be using and when. Granted, most tourists will be traveling within the distances that get the minimum fare, and off-peak, so they could just go by that minimum fare. There's just no actual indication of that fact. Oh, and if you want a plastic RFID card rather than magnetic paper that will fall apart within 3 trips, you need to spend $10 for $8 of fare. (EDIT: And another commenter mentioned something I'd forgotten: those paper farecards also come with a $1 surcharge per trip.)
- munin 12y ago
  each ride with the magnetic paper also costs $1 extra, to incentivize using the RFID, but the RFID cards stop working after a month and when they do you have no way to get the balance off of it the way you do with a paper card. yay!
  - mikeash 12y ago
    Odd, my wife and I have both had ours for many years and they still work fine.
  - tedks 12y ago
    I've had DC Smarttrip cards last years. Actually, I've only ever owned two since they were introduced. They definitely don't stop working after a month.
  - JosephHatfield 12y ago
    I was one of the first people in DC to get the Smart Card. That original card lasted for more than ten years. The first (much thinner) replacement card failed after two months. The second failed after three months. I complained to WMATA and they completely denied any change in the card design. I've been back on paper fare cards ever since.
    - palidanx 12y ago
      I was just in DC and I noticed that on the buses some times you have to swipe 3-4 times just to get it to work? Is it just a weird software glitch or my bad luck?
    - pikewood 12y ago
      The original SmarTrip cards came from a company that went out of business, but used proprietary technology. WMATA eventually found another company to create the cards, and I believe this came about the time when new SmarTrip cards reduced in price from $5 to $2. So perhaps not a change in the design, but definitely a change in the manufacturing. http://wamu.org/news/10/10/15/metro_board_replacing_smartrip_will_be_difficult http://wamu.org/news/10/10/15/metro_board_replacing_smartrip...

If they really wanted to fix this, the text would read "How many rides would you like to purchase ($2.50 per ride)". Of course, this only works if every ride is $2.50.

uptown 12y ago

With a few exceptions (i.e. the Express Buss which costs $6), every ride is $2.50. http://web.mta.info/nyct/fare/FaresatAGlance.htm#info http://web.mta.info/nyct/fare/FaresatAGlance.htm#info

colinbartlett 12y ago

I think the whole point is that they don't want to fix this. It's probably specifically designed this way.

ovi256 12y ago
Sounds a lot like a dark pattern! If not dark, at least gray.

embolalia 12y ago

NYC Subway fares are always $2.50. Really, as confusing fares go, this is nothing compared to DC's Metro. At the top of the machine, above the head of anyone who can actually fit in the train, there's a massive listing of fares to each other station in the system (on and off peak, which are different). In order to fill your card perfectly, you need to know exactly which stations you'll be using and when. Granted, most tourists will be traveling within the distances that get the minimum fare, and off-peak, so they could just go by that minimum fare. There's just no actual indication of that fact. Oh, and if you want a plastic RFID card rather than magnetic paper that will fall apart within 3 trips, you need to spend $10 for $8 of fare. (EDIT: And another commenter mentioned something I'd forgotten: those paper farecards also come with a $1 surcharge per trip.)

munin 12y ago
each ride with the magnetic paper also costs $1 extra, to incentivize using the RFID, but the RFID cards stop working after a month and when they do you have no way to get the balance off of it the way you do with a paper card. yay!
- mikeash 12y ago
  Odd, my wife and I have both had ours for many years and they still work fine.
- tedks 12y ago
  I've had DC Smarttrip cards last years. Actually, I've only ever owned two since they were introduced. They definitely don't stop working after a month.
- JosephHatfield 12y ago
  I was one of the first people in DC to get the Smart Card. That original card lasted for more than ten years. The first (much thinner) replacement card failed after two months. The second failed after three months. I complained to WMATA and they completely denied any change in the card design. I've been back on paper fare cards ever since.
  - palidanx 12y ago
    I was just in DC and I noticed that on the buses some times you have to swipe 3-4 times just to get it to work? Is it just a weird software glitch or my bad luck?
  - pikewood 12y ago
    The original SmarTrip cards came from a company that went out of business, but used proprietary technology. WMATA eventually found another company to create the cards, and I believe this came about the time when new SmarTrip cards reduced in price from $5 to $2. So perhaps not a change in the design, but definitely a change in the manufacturing. http://wamu.org/news/10/10/15/metro_board_replacing_smartrip_will_be_difficult http://wamu.org/news/10/10/15/metro_board_replacing_smartrip...