New York Is Getting Rid of the MetroCard Machine
How will this affect the city’s lower-income and houseless population?
These are dark times as New York is saying goodbye to its infamous MetroCard machine.
According to Curbed, the much-loved subway staple will be replaced by the OMNY vending machine, which will only accept contactless methods of payment. “A case study from OMNY’s manufacturer, Cubic Transportation Systems, estimates the switch, which will begin early next year, will be complete by the end of 2023.” This immediately puts those of fewer means at a disadvantage as those who do not have credit cards or smart phones makes up an overwhelming amount of the city’s population.
While one option may be to purchase a pre-paid OMNY card from a drugstore, like CVS or Walgreens, this solution may not work for everyone. Given New York’s recent decision to remove sitting areas from several subway stations, this can’t help but feel like another attack on people without housing.
