Michael Gerrard
@michaelgerrard.bsky.social
Professor of environmental and energy law, Columbia Law School. Founder and faculty director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Practiced environmental law in NYC full-time, 1979-2008.
had been since 1953. New technologies have emerged that weren't envisioned in 1983 when we did our study, rendering the MetroCard obsolete, and it goes away when the ball drops at Times Square. But it served the city well for a generation.
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 AM
had been since 1953. New technologies have emerged that weren't envisioned in 1983 when we did our study, rendering the MetroCard obsolete, and it goes away when the ball drops at Times Square. But it served the city well for a generation.
to happen; the transit bureaucracy and unions had to be convinced, the computer systems needed to be created, all the subway turnstiles and bus fareboxes had to be converted, and much else needed to be done. But since 1994 the MetroCard has become as much a part of life in New York as the token ...
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 AM
to happen; the transit bureaucracy and unions had to be convinced, the computer systems needed to be created, all the subway turnstiles and bus fareboxes had to be converted, and much else needed to be done. But since 1994 the MetroCard has become as much a part of life in New York as the token ...
to students and seniors; and allow fare increases without needing replacement cards. They were harder to counterfeit than tokens and didn't require riders to carry metal in their pockets. So Steve and I recommended the adoption of fare cards with magnetic stripes. It took a decade for this ....
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 AM
to students and seniors; and allow fare increases without needing replacement cards. They were harder to counterfeit than tokens and didn't require riders to carry metal in their pockets. So Steve and I recommended the adoption of fare cards with magnetic stripes. It took a decade for this ....
technologically sophisticated systems used magnetic stripes. This was a revolutionary advance over the token. It could store the value of multiple trips, and delete them as they were used; allow unlimited trips for a day or a month; vary the fare with distance or time of day; provide discounts ...
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 AM
technologically sophisticated systems used magnetic stripes. This was a revolutionary advance over the token. It could store the value of multiple trips, and delete them as they were used; allow unlimited trips for a day or a month; vary the fare with distance or time of day; provide discounts ...
but there was no 15 cent piece.) So in 1983 my colleague Steve Polan and I separately visited the major cities in North and South America, Europe and Asia that had electronic fare collection systems, rode their subways, and interviewed their managers. We found that the most ...
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 AM
but there was no 15 cent piece.) So in 1983 my colleague Steve Polan and I separately visited the major cities in North and South America, Europe and Asia that had electronic fare collection systems, rode their subways, and interviewed their managers. We found that the most ...
of modern fare collection systems that could replace the subway token, which had been in use since 1953, when the fare went to 15 cents. (The fare was five cents from 1904 to 1948, and was paid with a nickel; then ten cents, and paid with a dime or two nickels; ....
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 AM
of modern fare collection systems that could replace the subway token, which had been in use since 1953, when the fare went to 15 cents. (The fare was five cents from 1904 to 1948, and was paid with a nickel; then ten cents, and paid with a dime or two nickels; ....