By Sree Sreenivasan
DNAinfo Contributing Editor
Sree is DNAinfo's technology evangelist and skeptic (yes, it's unusual to be both). He loves demystifying technology and believes that there are always new things to learn about all the technology in and around our lives. Used properly, technology can often help make your work better, make you more efficient and improve your connections with the world around you. But used improperly, it can waste your time and your energy and increase your aggravation. Sree is going to explain technology trends, including social media, that affect Manhattanites, using the tools various tools our readers use: the Web, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail. Several times a week, he will share tips, tricks and what he's learning himself on DNAinfo.com and via Twitter and Facebook - using text, photos, video. Send him your questions at sree.sreenivasan@dnainfo.com.
Yes, we New Yorkers can be sentimental, remembering fondly such extinct items as Checker cabs and 75-cent pizza slices.
One thing I don't miss: the subway token. I remember how much of a hassle it was to always have to buy a bunch of them each week and discover you had run out — just as you got to the turnstile.
That all changed in the 1990s with the introduction of the MetroCard and its ability to store fares. To me, that's a technological milestone right up there with the iPod and the E-ZPass toll-paying gizmos for what it did to change our local culture.
But consumers get greedy and expect constant improvement. That's how technology works. We complain about trouble with the swipes: "Swipe again at this turnstile" and "Too slow swipe again" have to be among the most irritating phrases in any New Yorker's life. And we complain that turnstiles don't tell us when our monthly MetroCard will expire — if the bus can tell me, why can't the subway?
Now there's a solution for at least some of these MetroCard issues: the MTA's EasyPayXpress. Think of it as an E-ZPass for the subways and buses.
You have to, in effect, open an account with the MTA by going to www.easypaymetrocard.com and following the instructions there. You can select either an unlimited pass or a pay-per-ride version. Once you enter you credit card or debit card information, you'll never have to worry about having an empty or expired MetroCard again. When you run low, the card automatically refills.
The minimum to open a per-ride version is $45. To open a monthly unlimited pass, you'll pay the same $89 as you would at a station vending machine, but the MTA requires you provide information for two debit or credit card accounts.
Perhaps the most important question you'll have is answered from the program's FAQ:
Q. What if my EasyPayXpress MetroCard is lost or stolen?
A. You must call the EasyPay Account Service Center at 1-877-323-RIDE (7433) immediately. We will deactivate your card to protect you from unauthorized charges. We will also send you a replacement card in the mail.
I've been using this for a few months now and it's been liberating. No more worrying about whether my card has run out as I'm running for the train.
Do you use EasyPayXpress? Will you use EasyPayXpress? Do you feel nostalgia for tokens? Post your thoughts in the comments or e-mail me at sree.sreenivasan@dnainfo.com.
