Friday, 25 September 2009

• Finding the Perfect Subway Deal

  
  
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  Gothamist posted yesterday about a clever iPhone application called MetroCost, which allows you to track how often you ride the Subway (or Metro, or L, or what have you) each month, to determine whether you should be using an unlimited pass or paying per ride. I know, I know: Why do we need an app for something we can figure out on paper? But Subway math turns out to be a little more complicated than it looks.
  
  In New York, for example, an individual subway fare costs $2.25 and a 30-day Unlimited Ride pass is $89. That means you want to spring for the unlimited if you use the train 40 or more times a month, which would be $90 pay-per-ride. Well, sort of. You also get a 15 percent bonus when you put $8 or more on a pay-per-ride MetroCard, which... makes my head hurt.
  
  All math aside, it's easy to say, "This unlimited pass is a deal if I use the Subway about twice a day," but that's just what you think you are going to do, not necessary what's really going to happen. I bought my first unlimited pass at the beginning of the month, and I've used the Subway slightly less than I anticipated, because even though there are plenty of days when I take the train to go downtown or to see my boyfriend, I underestimated the number of days I don't need it at all. For me, MetroCost would help me keep an accurate record of my Subway travels, so that I can make a better decision next month.
  
  That being said, it's not all about the money for me. The unlimited pass is more convenient, and I think the fact that I've already paid for it actually helps inspire me to get out of my apartment.
  
  (By the way, MetroCost comes with the fares for the New York Subway, San Francisco Muni, and Atlanta MARTA built in, but you can manually add the fares of any city. The app itself costs $1.99.)
  
  How do you handle Subway math?
  

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