NYC subway upgrades its historic Metrocard

Sic transit gloria mundi. The progressive dematerialisation of transport tickets marks the end of an era also for New York’s subway system – not exactly known for its infrastructural innovati. As of 2023, the historic magnetic Metrocard card, valid for the entire network of subways, buses and trains operating in the New York metropolitan area, is gradually falling into disuse. It will be replaced by OMNY, a contactless ticket that can be activated by mobile phone or credit card. Not particularly sophisticated in its graphic design, but iconic in its striking yellow background and transversal pop language, the Metrocard replicated the gesture of credit card payment, the swipe, destined to disappear to make way for a faster movement that is now part of our everyday life: contactless.

Despite the narrowness imposed by its size, the Metrocard has been a space for graphic expression thanks to its advertisements and customized limited series (such as the “subway series”). An emblematic example is the Metrocard from Supreme, the famous New York-based apparel brand linked to the hip-hop subculture. Its magnetic card, with the iconic mark inspired by Barbara Kruger’s artworks, is considered, with its limited run of about 50,000, among the most sought-after in the collectors’ market. This small “blank canvas” capable of inspiring even in the short duration of a journey, is destined to have no comparable surrogates. but this will certainly not stop the transition, which will become definitive with the completion of the replacement of turnstiles throughout the network, scheduled for the end of 2024. For the large group of users who do not have a bank account and therefore a credit card – up to one in eight travellers, according to the MTA – a physical card will still be available.