It is often said that technology is taking over the world, as I’m sure many of us can agree with today but one of the biggest things that can impact specifically the city of New York, would be getting rid of the physical metro cards. It’s coming, it’s an idea, its being brainstormed and it is told to be launched in 2022 in the city of New York! Just look at how everything around us or almost everything we utilize is being controlled by another device. A couple of examples would be a digitized menu in a restaurant. If it goes down during business hours, you’re more than likely to call someone who will most definitely be sitting in front of a computer, while walking you through with what you should be doing in order to quickly fix the error; while they’re also tweaking your system on their end. Same thing with our phone companies, if something goes wrong our devices whether we decide to call our phone companies or go to the retail store, the representatives will be using a device such as a computer to help fix the issue we’re having. But in this case, getting rid of metro cards and replacing it with a simple scan from any one of our smart devices or a keychain or lanyard keychain with a keychain card attached to it. The keychain cards would be provided by the MTA. This will allow us enter any sort of New York public transportation as well, with the use of an app which will be the next big thing in the city of New York.
Because our world is rapidly transitioning into a digital world, the discontinuation of metro cards would be replaced with the New York City Transit application as well as keychain cards, so yes my idea is digital and an object with a barcode. This is an app that already exist, so with the collaboration with the MTA and my team, we’d launch an update that will introduce the digitized metro cards which will also be compatible with Apple and Samsung pay. The update will consist of a new tab for metro card utilization only and a replica of what once was an actual classic metro card (very similar to apple pay and the replica of our credit and debit cards). This will be used to scan on to whatever preferred public transport at that moment, whether it’s a bus or a train. I will also have an option for Apple and Samsung pay where it will require you to scan your finger print. Moreover, you will be able to choose between paying for a monthly, weekly, single ride or just simply putting whatever amount you’d like and just to add a fun personal touch to the digital metro cards, I will provide themes for your digitized metro cards. In addition to that, you can even use a photo from your photo library as the theme of your new metro card. Reason being, I am one of the New Yorkers who always wants what we call a “pretty metro card” and we never get the option to choose one because there is a classic look for the metro cards already and its whatever the station agent chooses for us or whatever the machine lets out when we purchase a new card.
My target are the individuals who live in the city of New York, who depends on public transportation. I am more than sure that the update for the transit application will be extremely convenient to individuals who work for corporate offices in the city, ordinary individuals who work regular 9:00am-5:00pm jobs, college students, high school students etc. Why? Well let’s start with our younger population, high schoolers who work; yes, normally the high schools do provide school metro cards but it comes with a three ride limit. It would be impossible for the student to do what they have to do within their day, with a three ride limit. Perhaps they wanted to do something before work, that’s something that wouldn’t work out in their favor because it would interfere with their limit and they would still have to get home. Point is, when they do run out of rides, they can always use the transit app to put money on an additional metro card in order to make it home or do whatever else they’d have to do. As for our young adult populations such as college students and or individuals who finished high school and began to work. This app will let us sleep just a tad bit longer because we no longer have to get up to rush to the train station to stand in those lines in order to refill our cards, instead we can wake up a few minutes later do our wake up routines and refill our cards when walking to the bus or train. Super handy right? Now for our adult population, our moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers, guardians, wife’s, husbands, single parents etc. we now have a bit more time in the morning for ourselves and families. We get the chance to double check our bags for the day, make lunch to go and even try to sneak in a couple more minutes to sleep before beginning our wake up routines. So again while walking to the bus or train or even before we turn off the light to head to bed, we can quickly Apple or Samsung pay for our metros or simply input our card information. We will also have the option to save card information but a finger print scan will be needed to confirm its you.
So because the focus and target group are New Yorkers who rely on the MTA, I don’t believe gaining their interest for the app will be an issue because the transit app is already a huge utilization throughout the city. I know many people who already utilize this application. So the update will just be a plus for the application. Now because we are New Yorkers, we are well aware that most of us are hard to please. So of course we have to take that into consideration into brainstorming on what some New Yorkers may not like about this major change to the city. Such as what if our phones die, or what if we haven’t paid our phone bills yet so our phones are cut off, or what if you’re someone who doesn’t own a smart phone or device, or someone who simply just can’t afford a metro card in general and maybe get that help from public assistance etc. These are all issues that runs throughout our city. So because this will eventually be an issue for someone in our city; my team and I with the help of the investment from the MTA, have created the MTA keychain cards. So you’re probably sitting there like huh? Example, if you’re someone who shops in a supermarket like Pathmark, and have become a member. They give you a card with a barcode which will allow you to add up points to get discounts, along with a keychain card to go on your keys. Also, the keychain card has a barcode.
So now that you have an idea of the visual look of what will be provided by the MTA, I can now begin to explain to you why this idea has come into play as an alternative to the transit app update. As previously stated, some New Yorkers can’t afford metro cards and are being helped with public assistance, others might be out while their phone is completely dead and others just might not have paid their phone bill for the month yet. So if you happen to be in any of these situations, the keychain card will definitely work in your favor. Yes, you can have both the app and a keychain. Keychain for just in case purposes and the app as your everyday metro. Now if you are a New York resident and are receiving public assistance, I am aware that some of them help you get around by providing metros. So in this case they will be providing keychain cards, with your choice of a regular keychain or a lanyard to go around your neck. The only thing about being a New York resident with a keychain card, you will not be able to have the personal touch such as themes or paying for apple and Samsung pay. However, ALL New Yorkers who has the transit app will be receiving the first keychain card FREE just by creating a user name and password with the transit app (this will be a part of the update). As for our residence through public assistance, same thing first one is free. If anything happens to the key chain cards, all you have to do is bring it to the nearest train station and hand it to the station agent they will give you a temporary card which will have a barcode that will be connected to your transit app, so the money will come right off as if you just finish scanning your phone or key chain card but there will be a fee of $31 because it can take up to a week to fix depending on the issue and that is currently the price for a weekly metro. As for the residence through public assistance, it will be up to your agency on how they would like to handle that kind of situation with whatever consequence of their choice. Now, if you were to lose your keys with the keychain card on it or just simply lose the key chain card, there will be a fee of $117 and you will be able to receive a new one the next day. Just visit the same booth your dropped of the damage one to.
The one thing that makes my project which is to enhance the digitized metro cards through the transit app and keychain metro cards with barcodes, stand out is because how considerate we’re being to ALL sorts of New Yorkers. Normally when something comes out its usually targeted towards one audience but anyone would be welcome to utilize it. But in this case ALL New Yorkers are taken into consideration.
At this point if the MTA decides to take this route then the city of New York really has no choice to adapt to the digitized metro card and key chains. Just like we had no say so in the 25 cent increase to the metro card price. Now because my team and myself are involved, we’re are keeping in mind the different types of New Yorkers that way it can be as convenient as possible for everyone. I truly believe this idea will be successful with a couple of more tweaks later on down the line.
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