2014-01-09

The NYC MTA MetroCard is 20 years old today.

Customers, who for decades had simply dropped a token into the slot on top of the turnstile, had to familiarize themselves with a new method of entry.  Using the MetroCard required riders to master the swipe.  Not too slow, not too fast and don’t lift too early.  Some likened it to delivering a punch to the gut.

After 20 years I still can’t swipe correctly when a train is in or entering the station. Works every time when there’s no train nearby. Typical.

Speaking of the NYC subway, here’s a slow-mo movie of the people standing on the platform while a train is entering the station.



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