You are a true New Yorker and you have a PHD in using the subway but did you know that there s a science to swiping your MetroCard. A science, yes. Have you ever gotten the too slow message or the too fast message. When swiping your MetroCard you want to have the card and black strip facing down, next you want to keep your hand steady while swiping through the reader. If you are not seated, the reader might not read parts of the strip just like a credit card in the olden days before the credit card chip technology took over our lives when we used to swipe our credit cards. If you did not swipe it through steadily, the credit card reader would decline the transaction because it was unable to read the card.


It is not always your swiping hands that causes a problem, sometimes the reader itself might be dirty. That can also prevent the reader from reading your card. First you will see the swipe again at this turnstile message, when you see that message make sure your are swiping steadily as the true New Yorker that you are and swipe again at the same turnstile. Avoid switching to another turnstile. Switching to another turnstile is the fastest way to receive the Just Used for unlimited cards or Insufficient Fare message. If the turnstile is not released at the second or third swipe at the same turnstile, give the reader a few seconds to clear and swipe it again. That will usually do the trick.


If it does not, alert the Station Agent at the booth or using a Help Point Intercom. The Agent will ask you to swipe your card at the booth reader to verify that you swiped at the turnstile. The Agent will provide a courtesy entry.


We are excited for the new fare technology that MTA-NYCT is scheduled to introduce later this year.