Midweek Takes #15

10/13's small thoughts and links.

(Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit)

OMNY Man.

In 2021, I no longer have to use my Metrocard to board any of MTA’s buses or trains. Fortunately, my iPhone 11 can tap—without opening up any payment app or card—and pay for my trip + transfer seamlessly, which was MTA’s Phase I goal for this project. It’s a huge time saver for my targeted demographic: occasional commuter or out-of-towner who buys trips on a per-ride basis. It’s progress, it doesn’t go nearly far enough, and it’s certainly not as progressive as its bona fides would suggest.

I’ve written about OMNY before.

My colleagues in the transportation space have, too. We know that the single-ride option is temporarily regressive. It only provides benefits for people who check lots of boxes: who can afford a smartphone (and know how to use it), who can afford to be banked, who can afford the full fare for the Subway. While this is a lot of people, there are several groups of people for whom this does not apply, in many differe…