Congestion pricing began this week, prompting some commuters to take public transportation for the first time in years. Here are some tips to help you navigate recent mass transit changes, especially if you live in a transit desert that requires you to take a bus to get to the train.
The basics
Metrocards are being phased out in favor of OMNY, a contactless pay system that allows you to pay a fare directly with Apple Pay or Google Pay on your smartphone or with a physical, reloadable OMNY card.
With OMNY, you can transfer from the bus to the subway the same way you can with a Metrocard. You can also still transfer from local buses to an express bus, you just pay the fare difference.
Be aware of changes in bus and train routes
Based on the last time you took mass transit, your quickest commute might have changed. In addition, your bus route might change later this year when the Queens bus redesign network is slated to start. Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul also announced shorter wait times are coming for certain bus routes in the spring.
Here’s how you can stay on top of last-minute changes:
- Check mta.info to keep abreast of service changes.
- Follow @NYCTSubway and @NYCTBus on Twitter for real-time service updates.
- Sign up for MTA email or text alerts at new.mta.info/signup.
Parents of babies and toddlers
In the past, the MTA used to require parents to fold their baby strollers before boarding buses, but that has changed on some buses. If you drop your child off at a daycare near your office, you can use open stroller areas on some buses.
- Participating buses have one designated area for a single open stroller near the rear door, which is completely separate from the wheelchair area at the front of the bus.
- The outside of participating buses is marked with a stroller decal, as is the stroller area in the bus.
More about OMNY
OMNY cards can be reloaded from home. This is especially helpful for express bus riders who otherwise have to go out of their way to a subway station to reload a card or for anyone who lives in a transit desert and largely uses buses. If you lose your OMNY card, you can cancel it from your phone and transfer the balance into a new card.
Another benefit of OMNY: After spending $34 on rides in a 7-day period (or $17 for reduced fare), extra rides that week are free. But express buses, group trips, and transfers don’t count towards the cap.
More details about OMNY can be found here and here.
See if you qualify for transit savings
Two programs offer savings on mass transit:
1. Fair Fares Program:
- Eligibility: NYC residents aged 18-64 with low income
- Income eligibility: the income for a single-person household must be $21,837; 2-person household, $29,638. Find income requirements for other household sizes here.
- Benefit: 50% discount on subway and eligible bus fares
- How to check eligibility and register: nyc.gov/fairfares
2. Reduced-Fare Program:
- Eligibility: Riders aged 65+ and those with qualifying disabilities
- Benefit: 50% discount on subway, local bus, and express bus fares
- How to apply: Visit new.mta.info/fares/reduced-fare to check eligibility and register
- Note: As MTA transitions to OMNY, reduced-fare MetroCards will be phased out by OMNY cards
Beware of this illegal attempt to avoid congestion pricing
You might be tempted to try covering your license plate to avoid paying the new congestion fee. Reminder: it’s illegal. And a law that took effect last year increased the penalties for doing so in New York.
A refresher on subway safety
A note about safety: On the day congestion pricing was greenlit, MTA leadership faced questions about New Yorkers who don’t feel safe on mass transit. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber asked New Yorkers to keep things in perspective.
“There’s a lot less crime than there used to be before COVID, and … between more cameras, more cops, and a ton more outreach workers, the governor in particular, as well as the mayor, are pushing back at some of the things that have contributed to a sense of disorder,” Lieber said at the press conference.
In Epicenter NYC’s past coverage, we’ve broken down why stats might not align with how New Yorkers feel about subway crime. We’ve also reported on how NYC and our transit system are safer than most of the country. However, we get how this “sense of disorder” is fueled by high-profile violent incidents, including the woman set on fire on the F and the man shoved onto the tracks in late December.
Despite how rare these incidents are, they’re real. Here are some real-world tips to help you feel safer — especially if it’s been a minute since you took the subway.
How to stay safe in the subway
- Gothamist spoke with experts to get some tips on how riders can stay safe on the subway. Some of the advice includes:
- Be aware and consider going earbud-free, or at the very least don’t wear ones that are noise-cancelling or offer ambient mode.
- On the platform, stand in a spot that allows a maximum field of view — while avoiding vulnerable zones like the yellow line.
- (Literally) watch your back: Try to stand with your back against a wall, which makes it tougher for anyone to push you from behind, or hug a column if you’re feeling especially anxious.
- The New York Times also spoke with safety experts. Some advice includes:
- Choose the first or middle subway cars, where the conductor and another MTA worker are typically stationed.
- If possible, avoid riding near the doors and the end cars and empty cars, especially at night.
- If you encounter an issue, alert an MTA staffer or use the help buttons on the train and platform.
For more subtle calls for help, text the subway car number and a brief description of the issue via WhatsApp or by tagging the MTA on social media. Read more here.
Where’s the funding for congestion pricing supposed to go again? Learn more here and here. Read more stories about congestion pricing here.
