The MTA responded to a recent I Quant NY post explaining how the transit authority’s vending machines trick commuters by applying bonuses that leave you with less than enough money to pay for another ride. Ben Wellington, who runs the data-driven site, found their response unsatisfactory:
“These machines do not hold an infinite amount of change and the denominations are suggested to insure there is ample change to accommodate customers who pay with cash,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“That being said, we will certainly look at this as part of the process involved in rolling out the next scheduled fare increase slated for next year”
Wellington found this statement ridiculous, as many people pay for MTA cards with credit cards, which eliminate the need for change. He suggested they add an option to their system that allows credit card users to see different presets when using the machine, sparing them from having leftover money on their Metrocard. (Photo: Wikipedia)
