The MetroCard is on its way out. As much as this flimsy ticket may have annoyed us, it’s helped millions of us get around the city every day. As residents and visitors prepare to swipe for the final time, the New York Transit Museum is giving the card a proper sendoff with a new exhibit called “FAREwell, MetroCard” (see what they did there?), opening on December 17 in Brooklyn.
The exhibit covers the full journey of the little yellow card that changed how the city moved. When the item launched in 1994, the goal was simple: retire the cumbersome token for something more fitting for the modern era. The show explores how that idea grew from clunky magnetic stripe prototypes into the systemwide rollout that reshaped the daily commute. Through early pilot brochures, SubTalk ads and photos of the first activated turnstiles, you’ll realize how much work went into convincing riders to trust the new system.
But the museum uncovers more than just the MetroCard’s straightforward history. Did you know about a proposed mascot named the Cardvaark? He never made it into stations, but his merch-ready charm now lives on in the museum. A 1997 prototype of the MetroCard vending machine offers another blast from the past. The design team at Antenna Design used simple color cues like green for cash and yellow for the card to guide riders long before touchscreens became standard.
The exhibit also celebrates the MetroCard as a cultural object. View limited edition designs honoring David Bowie, WorldPride and various film and TV releases, turning the object into an advertisement of sorts. And don’t forget about the Poetry in Motion and Train of Thought cards, which delivered thought-provoking words with every swipe.
You might not think too hard about your MetroCard, but the exhibit reveals how it helped usher in major upgrades to the entire transit system. Free transfers arrived in 1997. Unlimited rides made taking public transportation more attractive. Reduced fares expanded access across the region. Tokens could never have carried expiration dates, balances or flexible rules; is was the MetroCard that made those shifts possible. It’s time to honor it.
