It’s the end of the line for the MetroCard after more than 30 years of swipes across the city’s transit system.

“The MetroCard was there when we was broke, when we were late, when we squeezed into the train with one swipe left and that hope, that hope in our hearts,” said Dupree God, who helped organize a funeral for the famed MetroCard in Washington Square Park on Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The MetroCard was first introduced in 1994 and featured a magnetic stripe with a stored value

  • The card replaced subway tokens, which rolled out in 1953

  • MetroCard will still be accepted into 2026, and the MTA will announce the final acceptance date at a later time

New Yorkers said FAREwell to the dearly departed payment method, while organizers read from a so-called “obituary” and held up an urn filled with MetroCard ashes. Sales will officially end on New Year’s Eve as customers permanently switch to the MTA’s tap-and-go payment system, OMNY.

“Late nights on the train, trying to get from one side of the city to the other… Who do we call? We call the MetroCard. And now we’ll be reminded of his absence every time we go on the train,” said Kaicey Rahn, who attended the MetroCard funeral. When asked what she thought of OMNY, Rahn said, “No comment.”

For decades, swiping a MetroCard with ease has been the unofficial test of a true New Yorker. Now, most customers use tap-to-pay.

“You’re goated! One swipe? Yeah, you deserve an award. The one-swiper,” Brooklyn resident Max Cannon said.

For one artist, the iconic blue and yellow card was more than just a wallet-mainstay — it was an inspiration.

Matthew Lloyd has been drawing different scenes within the MTA MetroCard background for years. He showed his work in Long Island City on Tuesday to commemorate the card’s retirement.

“The classic yellow MetroCard, which was once blue, is like a New York City staple. It’s recognizable across all five boroughs, the tri-state area even. And I think it’s just such a big symbol in New York,” said Lloyd, whose exhibit is titled “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Please.”

The MetroCard was first introduced in 1994 and featured a magnetic stripe card with a stored value. Lifelong New Yorkers say they’ll remember the MetroCard fondly as an all-access pass to the greatest city in the world.

“I would see my student pass from kindergarten all the way to grade 12. It was always there for me. From the train to the bus, it was my gateway to experiencing the beauty that was New York City,” one funeral attendee said.

MetroCard will still be accepted into 2026 and the final acceptance date will be announced at a later time.