Comments on: Introducing the MetroCard Challenge http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:33:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: j. mork http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-58063 j. mork Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:16:05 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-58063 The transportation tax benefit is managed by an ever-increasing number of third party companies of varying quality. The best one I had (forget which company) is when they give you a special credit card that takes money from an account that is automatically filled with money from your payroll deduction. Then you just use the credit card to get a metrocard from the machines. Ask your employer about it. The transportation tax benefit is managed by an ever-increasing number of third party companies of varying quality. The best one I had (forget which company) is when they give you a special credit card that takes money from an account that is automatically filled with money from your payroll deduction. Then you just use the credit card to get a metrocard from the machines.

Ask your employer about it.

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » » The Second Annual MetroCard Challenge http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-57348 Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » » The Second Annual MetroCard Challenge Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:18:06 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-57348 [...] Last November, as the MTA started talking about a fare hike, I decided to see just how much I, a moderately heavy user of the subways, pay per ride. Thus was born the MetroCard Challenge. [...] [...] Last November, as the MTA started talking about a fare hike, I decided to see just how much I, a moderately heavy user of the subways, pay per ride. Thus was born the MetroCard Challenge. [...]

]]> By: Downtown Steve/RicanOneLove http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-57299 Downtown Steve/RicanOneLove Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:04:12 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-57299 I never knew that Booth Clerks could tell you how many "passes" are on a monthly MetroCard. This isn't something that the MTA broadcasts to the public. Thanks for this fine detail! I never knew that Booth Clerks could tell you how many “passes” are on a monthly MetroCard. This isn’t something that the MTA broadcasts to the public.

Thanks for this fine detail!

]]> By: Doug http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-51817 Doug Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:20:30 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-51817 TransitChek is a great idea, when they deliver your card. I don't know who to blame. I signed up for it through work and they were supposed to deliver my card. Three months went by, and I never got a card. My suspicion is that they are either really bad at customer service, or someone was stealing the card out of my mailbox. Probably the latter. TransitChek is a great idea, when they deliver your card. I don’t know who to blame. I signed up for it through work and they were supposed to deliver my card. Three months went by, and I never got a card.

My suspicion is that they are either really bad at customer service, or someone was stealing the card out of my mailbox. Probably the latter.

]]> By: Ron http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-40521 Ron Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:48:34 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-40521 I'm contract, but I wish I could do TransitChek. Under $45 a month for my unlimited would be tremendous. But if you simply want to calculate what the per-trip cost is or per-swipe cost, simply take your monthly unlimited once it's expired and bug the booth attendant to tell you how many 'passes' registered on it. As far as I'm concerned, that's one more thing those MTA employees are paid to do. Of course you'll never request this without the booth attendant telling you ubiquitously what you're already aware of: 'This card has expired'. 'Yes, I know that', I follow with, 'but I'd like to know how many passes it had for that month'. Typically for me, a 9-to-5 commuter who rides on weekends too, I get some 80ish clicks a month, or roughly a buck a ride. My record high was 116 I think. But that was within my first six months in the city, and no doubt many of those occurred simply due to screwing up and taking the wrong train. I’m contract, but I wish I could do TransitChek. Under $45 a month for my unlimited would be tremendous. But if you simply want to calculate what the per-trip cost is or per-swipe cost, simply take your monthly unlimited once it’s expired and bug the booth attendant to tell you how many ‘passes’ registered on it. As far as I’m concerned, that’s one more thing those MTA employees are paid to do. Of course you’ll never request this without the booth attendant telling you ubiquitously what you’re already aware of: ‘This card has expired’. ‘Yes, I know that’, I follow with, ‘but I’d like to know how many passes it had for that month’.
Typically for me, a 9-to-5 commuter who rides on weekends too, I get some 80ish clicks a month, or roughly a buck a ride. My record high was 116 I think. But that was within my first six months in the city, and no doubt many of those occurred simply due to screwing up and taking the wrong train.

]]> By: Steve http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-39859 Steve Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:11:14 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-39859 Do you want the price to drop even further? Ask (no, demand) that your employer offer transit benefits such as TransitChek. Through these programs, the price of your monthly transit (it can be a MetroCard, commuter rail or even - shudder - car parking) is deducted from your pay PRE-TAX. In my case, I only pay $43.64 for my 30-day MetroCard (the difference in take-home pay between the check from which it's deducted and the check without the deduction). Were I to only commute with the card, assuming 20 working days a month my per-trip cost is ONLY $1.16!! And of course I use it much more than that - on a conservative estimate of 2 additional roundtrips a week my per trip cost goes down to 86 cents per ride. Can't beat it. Do you want the price to drop even further? Ask (no, demand) that your employer offer transit benefits such as TransitChek. Through these programs, the price of your monthly transit (it can be a MetroCard, commuter rail or even – shudder – car parking) is deducted from your pay PRE-TAX. In my case, I only pay $43.64 for my 30-day MetroCard (the difference in take-home pay between the check from which it’s deducted and the check without the deduction). Were I to only commute with the card, assuming 20 working days a month my per-trip cost is ONLY $1.16!! And of course I use it much more than that – on a conservative estimate of 2 additional roundtrips a week my per trip cost goes down to 86 cents per ride. Can’t beat it.

]]> By: john2 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-28554 john2 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:28:09 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-28554 Hi, For people trying to maximize their pay as you go metrocards you can use this handy calculator at http://metrocardcalculator.com Hi,

For people trying to maximize their pay as you go metrocards you can use this handy calculator at http://metrocardcalculator.com

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » The MetroCard Challenge and thoughts on a fare hike http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-15025 Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » The MetroCard Challenge and thoughts on a fare hike Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:25:06 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-15025 [...] the end of November, I started the 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard Challenge. My goal at the time was simple: I was going to track the number of times I swiped my 30-Day [...] [...] the end of November, I started the 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard Challenge. My goal at the time was simple: I was going to track the number of times I swiped my 30-Day [...]

]]> By: Roosevelt Island 360 (Eric) http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-6778 Roosevelt Island 360 (Eric) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:14:53 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-6778 Last Monday I was off from work which resulted in my doing more of the school commute rides with my kids on and off Roosevelt Island. Between those trips and a dinner in Manhattan that night I made 8 fare trips in that single day. For me the unlimited monthly card is always the right decision. Last Monday I was off from work which resulted in my doing more of the school commute rides with my kids on and off Roosevelt Island. Between those trips and a dinner in Manhattan that night I made 8 fare trips in that single day. For me the unlimited monthly card is always the right decision.

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » How Eliot Spitzer saved the tourists and screwed the rest of us http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-6724 Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » How Eliot Spitzer saved the tourists and screwed the rest of us Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:53:04 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/26/introducing-the-metrocard-challenge/#comment-6724 [...] it’s that Unlimited Ride increase that worries me. Sure, as the Monthly MetroCcard Challenge shows, we’re all getting some pretty good deals with those cards, and I do like the addition [...] [...] it’s that Unlimited Ride increase that worries me. Sure, as the Monthly MetroCcard Challenge shows, we’re all getting some pretty good deals with those cards, and I do like the addition [...]

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