Los Angeles Metro Transit System Plans to Support Apple Pay This Fall

[mrow]

I was a New Yorker, and sadly this is the view held by many. Many New Yorkers say NYC is the best city in the world without having lived much outside NYC.

Having said that, I do think NYC has the best overall subway network in the United States. It pales to more modernized subways around the world, but it's the most comprehensive network I rode in US.

I’d argue NYC’s network the most comprehensive in the world based on the number of stations. Sure, some of the stations look like something from a horror movie (I’m looking at you Chambers Street) but you can’t argue with the fact that this system can get you to the most number of places.

 

[bchery21]

No matter how often you use Apple Pay for the London tube and no matter how many rides you take on buses, tube, Overground etc, Transport for London only bills you once a month and works out for you, what the cheapest option is. They will bill you accordingly for either separate rides, or a weekly pass, or a monthly pass, or any combination thereof. It is surprisingly ethical in this respect. But you always have to use the exact same device to pay, even if you always use the same credit card, if you pay some rides with the Watch, some with your Phone and some with the plastic card, it will not recognize that its all the same credit card (presumably because Apple uses tokenization). So you always have to pay with the same device.

Hmm, very interesting.

 

[charlituna]

[doublepost=1548421219][/doublepost]My take on this isn’t that the system will now accept Apple Pay. But that Apple wallet will. NOw support the tap card. Similar to how student ids and store credit card use it. I’m sure they will most likely also accept Apple Pay. The more interesting side is that Apple wallet will now support nfc transit card in the United States. They already do in China

Exactly. I mean if my iPhone is in my hand when i tap my card, my wallet already opens up and has since wallet started. So I don’t get what the hold up is.

As for Apple PAY that would be a separate game, perhaps via an app that allows you to add value to your card without having to go to a station to do it.
[doublepost=1548438518][/doublepost]

I ride the LA Metro every week to work. If you happen to live near one of their locations, it's great. The big problem is zero enforcement of people riding without paying.

There are actually many problems that are just as big as folks not paying because they can either jump the turnstile or reach around and pop open the emergency exit.

There’s also the homeless issue hinted at. And panhandlers. And ****** schedules. And drivers that can’t even be bothered to depart the major transit stops on time. I mean seriously how hard is it to figure out that if you are supposed to roll out at 10am and it takes 3 minutes to walk from the break room to the bus and then 3 minutes to get settled in that you don’t wait until 10am to walk up.

 

[mi7chy]

Flash a nice phone on the metro and be a crime statistic. No thanks.

 

[AronDraws]

If this lets me pay for fares directly from my debit card via apple pay, I'll ride public transit again. The TAP card sucks if you live out in Burbank, and can't get access to one of the kiosk machines to load your TAP card. Trying to do so via their ancient webpage is the worst, and it takes DAYS for added fare to become usable on the TAP card.

I've been waiting forever to hear some news about it all.

 

[tzm41]

Awesome news!!!

I’m from Boston, MA so I hope my transit system, MBTA, starts accepting Apple Pay soon!

MBTA is working on AFC 2.0 which supports Apple Pay. It is planned to enter service by 2020.

 

[dontwalkhand]

If this lets me pay for fares directly from my debit card via apple pay, I'll ride public transit again. The TAP card sucks if you live out in Burbank, and can't get access to one of the kiosk machines to load your TAP card. Trying to do so via their ancient webpage is the worst, and it takes DAYS for added fare to become usable on the TAP card.

I've been waiting forever to hear some news about it all.

If its anything like Portland, you just tap the phone to the same TAP card readers! It will be amaze-sauce!

 

[pianophile]

This is one of the best MR conversations I've seen in years: lots of informative comments, and less than the usual barrage of furious complaints. Refreshing.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Wrong Forum...EDIT: Deleted.

 

[name99]

I assume you've never visited a city outside the US...

LA's system is actually REALLY nice. The trains are clean, the stations are attractive, I have no complaints using it.
The only problem is that LA geography kinda fights against it -- there aren't enough dense areas where everyone wants to go, or to put it differently there are too many non-dense areas where many people still want/need to go.
(Some of this is self-inflicted like the terrible LAX connectivity. Some of it is a**holes in surrounding transit systems who refuse to connect properly with LA Metro because they think they will lose riders --- apparently given their residents what they want is less important than maintaining their own separate transit empires...

But on the few occasions when I need to go into LA City proper, it's my transport of choice --- way less hassle than trying to fight downtown traffic and then park.

 

[dontwalkhand]

LA's system is actually REALLY nice. The trains are clean, the stations are attractive, I have no complaints using it.
The only problem is that LA geography kinda fights against it -- there aren't enough dense areas where everyone wants to go, or to put it differently there are too many non-dense areas where many people still want/need to go.
(Some of this is self-inflicted like the terrible LAX connectivity. Some of it is a**holes in surrounding transit systems who refuse to connect properly with LA Metro because they think they will lose riders --- apparently given their residents what they want is less important than maintaining their own separate transit empires...

But on the few occasions when I need to go into LA City proper, it's my transport of choice --- way less hassle than trying to fight downtown traffic and then park.

I agree that the LA system is actually very nice. Its the small systems like Big Blue Bus and OCTA even that make the entire system works out. IF they can fix the scheduling, LA actually has one hell of an amazing transit system. They all take the TAP card (and Apple Pay soon) so I don't see what people are complaining about. Trains are VERY clean, and even cleaner than Phoenix's Trains (Phoenix is SUPPOSED to be cleaner than LA LOL!)

 

[DblHelix]

Worked well in Portland OR. Tap and as long as you use the same device it picks up when you hit the threshold for a day, week, or monthly pass. Wish other cities were so simple

 

[mrow]

The only problem is that LA geography kinda fights against it -- there aren't enough dense areas where everyone wants to go, or to put it differently there are too many non-dense areas where many people still want/need to go.

This is an easy problem to solve if the city was willing to make the investment. Lots of other countries with suburbs surrounding their cities solved it decades ago. You need a dense, frequent, bus network that services these areas. In many (most?) European suburbs you are no more than a 5-10 minute walk from your nearest bus stop that will take you to the nearest subway/train stop. And the busses are frequent. Every 20 minutes or less. If the subway stop is a hub, the busses are the spokes that radiate out and bring people to it.

There was an excellent article in CityLab about this subject. Definitely worth the read if this kind of stuff interests you at all.

https://www.citylab.com/transportat...d-transit-other-countries-embraced-it/572167/

 

[nutmac]

I’d argue NYC’s network the most comprehensive in the world based on the number of stations. Sure, some of the stations look like something from a horror movie (I’m looking at you Chambers Street) but you can’t argue with the fact that this system can get you to the most number of places.

While Manhattan does have comprehensive network, Brooklyn and Queens are anything but comprehensive.

Among the cities that I visited, I would argue that Seoul and Tokyo have more comprehensive network, both of which have far nicer stations and other amenities to boot.

 

[Optheduim]

As someone who lives in Manhattan and exclusively rides the garbage dump of a subway... I hope we get something like this very soon! (They said end of 2019, but if you're a local--> you know they are lying)

 

[CarlJ]

For a point of comparison, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has physical cards one can load money into and then tap to pay, but they also have an iOS (and Android) app called Compass Cloud, where you can purchase tickets using Apple Pay, PayPal, or credit cards, and then simply show the ticket screen to the bus driver (or "fare enforcement officer" on the trolley - I've not tried that). I've used it a few times on occasions I've that used the bus. It's nice because you can literally buy a ticket (or a day pass) as you walk up to the bus. (Interestingly, the app sidesteps the potential problem of people using screenshots by decorating the ticket display page with some animated graphics - there's also a QR code if they want to scan it.)

 

[xxray]

I live nowhere even close to LA, but this is good. The more places that accept Apple Pay, the better.

 

[Chocolatemilty]

I can attest to the LA Metro system being much more robust than in years past. One thing to note about the system is that it is getting built out even better in the coming years in dense and non-dense areas is with the influx of money from the state, the city, and the USOC in IOC for the Olympics in 2028. The Inglewood stadium for the Rams/Chargers, downtown development, and SFV corridor and IE Metrolink connection routes being added as well. It’s gonna take time, but LA will get there!

 

[Coffee50]

I can attest to the LA Metro system being much more robust than in years past. One thing to note about the system is that it is getting built out even better in the coming years in dense and non-dense areas is with the influx of money from the state, the city, and the USOC in IOC for the Olympics in 2028. The Inglewood stadium for the Rams/Chargers, downtown development, and SFV corridor and IE Metrolink connection routes being added as well. It’s gonna take time, but LA will get there!

I was going to post the same thing, lol. The subway construction heading to the westside (and through Beverly Hills) will be a game changer....The "Subway to the Sea" will be incredibly beneficial.

They are also looking away at moving away from the "color coded" rail line naming scheme due to so many additional routes under construction.

 

[mrow]

As someone who lives in Manhattan and exclusively rides the garbage dump of a subway... I hope we get something like this very soon! (They said end of 2019, but if you're a local--> you know they are lying)

Manhattanite here also but I have faith!

It’s not supposed to be the end of the year though, it’s October 2020 when it’s supposed to be systemwide. The first rollouts are starting this May on all the buses in Staten Island and the Lexington Ave line between GCT and Atlantic Ave.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I was going to post the same thing, lol. The subway construction heading to the westside (and through Beverly Hills) will be a game changer....The "Subway to the Sea" will be incredibly beneficial.

They are also looking away at moving away from the "color coded" rail line naming scheme due to so many additional routes under construction.

Isn't "Subway to the sea" already there, in the form of a light rail, the Expo line?

 

[japanime]

NY still has the best subway system I've ever used.

Visit us here in Tokyo and prepare to have your mind blown.

 

[Minxy]

I don't understand you have been able to use Apple Pay almost everywhere in the UK for 3 years. Shops, transport, tube, everything - it's now a normal part of society. Yet in Apple's homeland, the USA, you still don't have it on your Metro and subway. Are there laws and regulations and other banks blocking Apple Pay?

 

[tommysiamese]

I just noticed that in Thailand they now support WeChat Pay too. Apple has competition. Apparently their Wallet can pay around 3% interest too which is more than what the bank pays you to keep money in the bank. Not only that but they apparently insure your money up to 1,000,000 RMB which is not too shabby.

WeChat Pay is accepted in many stores. Though, the only one that supports BTS Skytrain is Line Pay, which is also a QR code base payment. However, according to Mangmoom Card (Spider card), the government consolidated public transit card, all subway lines, skytrain lines, Public buses, tollways, and ferry should support EMV cardless payment by the end of this year. I hope (and beg) that ApplePay is in Thailand by then...

 

[pratikindia]

I have, many other cities (and not just visited but lived there): Paris, London, Sofia, San Fransisco, etc. NYC subway has a ton of problems, but it also is better in some ways, considering size and speed, the combination of express trains vs. locals, being open 24 hours a day, etc, etc.

I suggest you visit Shanghai and Beijing once. You will see how cashless China is. They use QR based payment, NFC payment (including Apple Pay) in everything such as Transit (buses, subway, taxi, ferry, cycle and more) and in all kinds of shopping. It's dead simple.