“That damn thing didn’t work again!”. This obnoxious statement of frustration is one I hear oh too often during the phone conversations with my well-mannered and (usually) exceptionally patient mother. Ironically that “damn thing” she refers to is the golden ticket for arriving and leaving from any place in New York City.  The Metropolitan Transit Authority’s little Metrocard is a necessity in any city dweller’s life and serves as both a treasure and a burden. According to the Metrocard’s Wikipedia page:” It was introduced to enhance the technology of the transit system and eliminate the burden of carrying and collecting tokens”.  Overall that statement does hold much truth to it even though it may be arguable for some of New York’s natives (such as my Mommy).

The Metrocard is thinner than any paper card and made from a smooth and shiny plastic material. It is rougly 4.5 inches wide with a length of 2.5 inches tall; matching up to the size of a credit card. It fits comfortably within anyone’s wallet and is composed of two detailed sides. The first side has remained the same over the years of my being and recognizable to people all over the world. It states: MTA Metrocard and in a much smaller font states: < < <- Insert this way / This side facing you. It is a wonder how these clear directions always seem to be escape eyes of the thousands of tourists that scatter the city. The card is a dark, mustard color and the Metrocard logo is written in royal blue. There is a thick black stripe vertically crossing the card and this is where the power of the card comes in. If any bending occurs around that area the card most likely will not be readable by the bus and train machines.

The back of the card is black and white and always displays the card’s expiration date, and the extensive card number at the top left corner. Despite those details, the back of a Metrocard is always different and can display quotes, words, advertisements, information about the MTA and all other sorts of interesting tidbits. The back of my card has an ad for the New York Transit Museum  with an address, picture of a train set and a website title. Now that I think of it, that would be a great place for me to have ventured to before writing this post and perhaps I will go there in the future if this card continues to significantly hold my interest.

The Metrocard was created by a division within the MTA known as: Metrocard Operations and is manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. The tiny card serves a simple purpose:  since 2003, it is the only method of payment (besides quarters) taken for public transportation among the five boroughs and some parts of Long Island. It caters to every form of public transportation system in New York City making it incredibly dependable for the millions of commuters of the city. The card was first introduced in 1993 and was a blue card that is now a collector’s item. The card replaced tokens in the late 1990s and its usage has been growing ever since.  As the Metrocard’s popularity grew, the benefits such as the free bus to train, bus to bus transfer, grew with it and have dramatically changed New York City’s public transportation system. According to a NY Times article: “It was not until free MetroCard transfers between subways and buses were instituted in 1997 and the unlimited-ride cards were introduced on July 4, 1998, that the passes fully realized their power to transform the transit system”.  Indeed  the card changed the way commuters go about getting from one place to another and  usually this card is reliable and fairly straight forward to work. However when the words: “Just used”, “Please swipe again” or “See agent”  pop up on a bus or train’s transportation machine, it can throw one’s entire day off and be the biggest inconvenience imaginable.

The history of the Metrocard is extraordinary and the technological advances that has come with it over the years displays the tremendous progress of the transportation system that makes up the industrial and greatest city of the world. Yet, as with any piece of technology, the card has its on and off days and can play a major role in influencing a traveler’s punctuality. Financially, the Metrocard is costly, as the pay-per-ride fare has increased from $1.50 to $2.00 to $2.25 over the last decade. The unlimited weekly and monthly cost of Metrocards have rose as well and increases in cost are currently under discussion and will probably be issued within the next months. In conclusion this little card plays a noteworthy role in possibly every single New Yorker’s life and though I currently live upstate, my wallet seems to naturally always carry a Metrocard which I use for my visits to my home. Whether this one decides to work will be my pleasant (or unpleasant) surprise.