My bus pass reader just stopped working this morning

I was trying to get on the 7:15 express to downtown, you know, like I do every day. I tapped my card on the reader and it just stayed red, no beep or anything. The driver told me to try again, but after three tries he just waved me on (which was nice of him). Has anyone else had their transit card just die like this, and what's the fastest way to get a new one?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam6753mo ago

That's a real pain, especially on a work morning. Did you check if the card itself is physically damaged? Sometimes a crack near the chip or a bent corner is the Actual problem. If it looks fine, the fastest way is usually to go straight to the main transit center downtown, not a random station kiosk. Their main office can print a new one on the spot if you have ID.

seanjohnson3mo ago

Had the same thing happen last month. Went to the main customer service desk at Grand Central, showed my driver's license, and they printed a new card right there. Took about ten minutes and cost five bucks for the replacement fee.

phoenix_singh2mo ago

Did you try the machine at the south entrance by the Starbucks? I had a similar thing where my card just died and it turned out the machine itself was busted, not the card. @adam675 is right though, the main transit center downtown is your best bet if the card is really toast.