How do I use my phone to ride the NYC subway?


How do I use my phone to ride the NYC subway?

Tap and go: Pick your payment method
  1. Tap your contactless card. Check if your contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card has the contactless symbol on the front or back. ...
  2. Tap your phone or smart device. Add a payment card to your digital wallet, then tap your device at an OMNY reader and GO. ...
  3. Tap an OMNY card.


Do phones work on NYC subway?

Subway riders can now use their phones to text, call or access the internet at underground stations but usually lose service once the train starts moving. Transit Wireless plans to expand service to trains in the tunnels and also to the system's 191 aboveground stations and to 21 Staten Island Railway stations.


What is the difference between subway and metro in New York?

They are the same: electric multiple-unit rapid transit trains. Metro train can run in subways (tunnels), at grade level, or on elevated trackways—referred to as el's in North America. Metro systems are thus frequently referred to as the subway or the underground, the el, or just the train.


How do you use New York subway for beginners?

Tap OMNY or swipe a pay-per-ride MetroCard as each person enters. Tap a contactless card or a digital wallet at OMNY readers to pay the fare. Swipe your MetroCard with the logo and the black barcode facing you and the clipped corner on the upper right.


Is NYC Metro contactless?

The MTA began offering OMNY contactless cards on October 1, 2021, and introduced fare capping on February 28, 2022. Reduced-fare customers were allowed to use OMNY starting in June 2022 using their own debit or credit cards which must be registered with OMNY.


Can I use contactless on NYC subway?

To pay your fare at subway turnstiles, AutoGates, and onboard buses (including Select Bus Service buses), simply tap your own contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card on the OMNY reader.


What is the easiest way to navigate the NYC subway?

The key is to look at the signs above each station, indicating which subway lines it services and the direction each train is headed. Note: subway lines are either numbers or letters. Usually, there are two entrances on either side of the same street. Each entrance puts you on a different track.


Is OMNY cheaper than MetroCard?

In fact, 88% of the time, OMNY is cheaper than a 30-day MetroCard if I average 10 rides a week. Let's see if we can generalize this to other weekly averages: As you can see, up until I average 11 rides a week, OMNY is usually better. More often than not, I'll save money if I stick with it and skip the Unlimited card.


How do I use my phone at NYC subway?

Tap and go: Pick your payment method
  1. Tap your contactless card. Check if your contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card has the contactless symbol on the front or back. ...
  2. Tap your phone or smart device. Add a payment card to your digital wallet, then tap your device at an OMNY reader and GO. ...
  3. Tap an OMNY card.


What do New Yorkers call the subway?

Maneuver Manhattan's train system like a local Here, Archer Hotel New York's consummate host offers timely tips on navigating the New York City subway (aka train) system like a boss. LOCAL TIP: New Yorkers typically call the subway “trains” (not underground or metro) or by their alpha name (the C or the Q).


Is NYC bus or subway safer?

We're talking a very marginal difference, of course, because both are extremely safe and there's very little crime in either location, but yes, the subway is safer.


Do I have to buy an OMNY card?

You do not need an OMNY card to tap and pay the fare. Use your own contactless credit, debit, reloadable prepaid card, or a smart phone or device with digital wallet enabled. Just choose your preferred payment method, tap and go!


How much does an OMNY card cost?

Purchase and use of this OMNY card constitutes your acceptance of the OMNY Terms of Service and the OMNY Privacy Policy at omny.info/terms-of-service and omny.info/privacy-policy. This OMNY card costs $5 to purchase and must be loaded with a minimum of $1 or a fare product at the time of purchase.


Should tourists use New York subway?

However, it is best to prepare your trip by knowing your destination, what train(s) will take you there and how you plan to spend your time. It is absolutely safe to visit New York and ride the subway, relative to any other public activities in other cities. In fact, it's been a low-crime area for years.


How do tourists use the NYC subway?

You can use cash, credit, or debit cards to make your purchase. New York City subway fares are $2.75 per trip. For visitors staying more than a couple of days you can buy a one week unlimited MetroCard for $33 or an unlimited monthly MetroCard for $127.00.


How to get on NYC Subway free?

Subways and local buses Get free rides after 12 fares within seven days using the same device or contactless card with fare capping. Learn more about how to get free rides with OMNY.