‘Swipe, Swipe’: New Yorkers Give the MetroCard a Public Funeral
The New York Times••business
Key Points:
- A funeral for the MetroCard was held in Washington Square Park, Manhattan, marking the last day the card will be sold on December 31, 2024.
- The event featured symbolic gestures such as ashes being scattered, a decorated cake, and a framed photo of the MetroCard wearing a Mets cap, drawing a crowd of a few dozen despite cold weather.
- The MetroCard, introduced in 1994 to replace tokens, is being phased out in favor of OMNY, a tap-and-go payment system already used for 94% of subway trips.
- Although MetroCards will still be accepted until 2026, refills will no longer be possible, and the exact end date for acceptance remains unknown.
