Friday, February 20, 2026

BLOG ENTRY # 84: THE OMNY CARD RIPOFF

The video is very true.  I recently had my own adventure with OMNY I shared with MTA in a survey.  I have a copy of it below



 

I used my OMNY card i the front of the bus as I boarded.  The person ahead of me tapped twice and the card did not read.  I had to tap twice and got the reading "TAP AGAIN".  I tapped a third time and it cleared me.  When I was about to get off the bus at White Plains Road, MTA Fare Enforcement greeted us and he asked for our method of payment.  I always pay, so I didn't worry...until the officer used his partner's device to scan my OMNY card and it showed "Invalid fare".  The officer then lectured me on making certain I press the card against the reader.  I let hm know that I had to tap three times to get a payment through.  There were no further issues and I credit the officer's professionalism.  I WILL say that the ONY readers are trash.  And because there is no information when you tap, there is no way of knowing your balance, if a fare was taken twice and in y case, if a fare was even taken.  With the wrong officer I could have been fined or detained.  I could have had to pay another fare.   About 30 minutes later I used the card o the Bx30 and had no problem. MTA needs to fix the situation with the reader and information given.  Metrocards at least give that.  I feel ripped off.

END OF SURVEY


Now...MTA is already losing tons of money on the city bus.  On an average ride I observe 25% of fare compliance of ANY kind.  This means OMNY card use, Metrocard or coins (which may or may not equal the appropriate fare).  Roughly 75% of people I observe just walk past the driver.   About 5% of kids under 21 pay, even though they are given fare cards from their school.  Half the adults with a child  don't pay.  My point...better use of the OMNY card reader MIGHT help  with lost fares, especially since there are people who tap five and six times to get a reading.

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