Can I be this much of a New York Jew?

April 29, 2009 5:18 AM

When one buys a 30-day unlimited MetroCard from the NYC Subway, are those thirty days counted from the date of purchase or the date of first use?

Subway fare is about to go up (again!), and I'm wondering if I can save money by buying a bunch of cards now, and activating them as needed. From the perspective of the City government, use-based dating would lose them money, but I seem to remember this being the way it works.

posted by Jon_Evil to travel & transportation around New York, NY (9 answers total)

30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard
Cost: $81, reduced fare $40.50
Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 30 days from day of first use. This card is protected against loss of theft when purchased at a vending machine with a creditor debit/ATM card.
posted by fozzie33 at 5:21 AM on April 29, 2009

Unlimited Ride MetroCard

MetroCard Vending Machines and station attendants will sell Unlimited Ride MetroCards at the current prices until midnight on Saturday, May 30. After midnight you will be able to purchase Unlimited Ride cards at the new, higher prices.

To get the full value of a 1-Day, 7-Day, 14-Day or 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard or the 7-day Express Bus Plus MetroCard purchased prior to May 31, you must begin using the card on or before June 8.

The chart shows when your Unlimited Ride MetroCard will expire. Regardless of the printed expiration date or date of first use, the MetroCard will expire on these dates.
Type of MetroCard For Full Value, Start Using By Expiration Date
1-Day Fun Pass June 8 June 8
7-Day Unlimited Ride June 8 June 14
14-Day Unlimited Ride June 8 June 21
30-Day Unlimited Ride June 8 July 7
7-Day Express Bus Plus June 8 June 14

An unused or partially used MetroCard purchased prior to May 31 will be refunded on a pro-rated basis. To return a card, ask a station attendant for a postage-paid envelope.
posted by fozzie33 at 5:21 AM on April 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

http://www.mta.info/mta/09/#umc
posted by fozzie33 at 5:22 AM on April 29, 2009

fozzie33 has it there - the MTA is fully aware of this, and takes steps to prevent stockpiling.

Incidentally, this was why the MTA periodically changed token format back in the day - to prevent exactly this kind of arbitrage.
posted by swngnmonk at 5:36 AM on April 29, 2009

What's the deal with the name of this post? Jon_evil, can you explain?
posted by Kololo at 8:23 AM on April 29, 2009

Yeah, Jon_evil regarding the title of this post: Check your memail.
posted by Simon Barclay at 9:09 AM on April 29, 2009

I was trying to make a joke about conforming to the stereotype of Jews (and Jews in NY especially) being thrifty (some would say cheap, but I say resourceful) in my attempt to stockpile subway passes before the fare increase. I apologize if I offended anyone, my intent was humor and not maleficence.
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:28 AM on April 29, 2009

When the monthly unlimited MetroCard went up from $76 to $81 (its current price), they were more lenient—cards at the old price could be started for a couple of months after the price went up. Now that we're facing a $20+ increase rather than a $5 increase, they're really cracking down.
posted by oaf at 2:51 PM on April 29, 2009

[comments removed - op explained himself, feel free to go to metatalk if you think this needs further discussion]
posted by jessamyn at 5:37 PM on April 29, 2009