Tap Card Usage: October Bus Travel

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) is a smart card used for automated fare collection on public transport in Los Angeles County, California. The card is available in physical and electronic forms and offers a convenient, secure, and flexible way to pay for bus and rail trips. With a TAP card, users can load Stored Value or agency passes and seamlessly transfer across 27 to 28 municipal transit systems in the county. The card is accepted by most public transport agencies within Los Angeles County, including bus services such as Foothill Transit, Los Angeles Metro, and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.

So, does the TAP card work on October buses?

TAP card readers on buses

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) is a smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport agencies within Los Angeles County, California. The TAP card is available in physical and electronic forms. The physical TAP card is a blue, or orange for reduced fare, credit-card-sized contactless stored-value smart card, which can be purchased for $2. The electronic card can be acquired for free through the TAP mobile app or through Apple Wallet.

TAP cards must be tapped on electronic readers to validate them when entering and transferring within the system. TAP readers are integrated into bus fareboxes, bus validators, and standalone readers located just outside the paid area of Metro Rail stations. On buses, TAP targets are located on the farebox where passengers board the bus. When the card is tapped, the validator will beep and display a confirmation that the card is valid.

TAP cards can be loaded with Stored Value or agency passes on 27 participating transit systems across LA County. The correct fare will automatically be deducted when the card is tapped on the reader. Each TAP card can hold up to 7 fare items at a time, and stored value counts as one of these fare items. Cards can be loaded with value through various methods, including the TAP app, online at taptogo.net, by calling TAP Customer Service, or at TAP vending machines.

Using TAP cards offers several benefits, including faster boarding times, flexible payment options, and seamless connectivity across multiple transit systems in LA County. Additionally, TAP cards provide balance protection, allowing users to recover their remaining balance in case of loss or theft.

TAP card expiration

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) card is a smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport agencies within Los Angeles County, California. The card is valid for 10 to 15 years from the date of purchase.

Each TAP card contains a date by which it will expire. Once a card expires, it is no longer valid and cannot be used as a fare card. The expiration date for each card varies, depending on the type of card issued. Regular TAP cards expire after 10 to 15 years, while Reduced Fare TAP card expiration dates vary depending on the type of card.

To check the expiration date of your TAP card, you can log in to your TAP account, visit a TAP Vending Machine, or contact a TAP Vendor location. It is important to note that if you have an expired Balance Protected Card with remaining transit stored value or a valid pass, you can request to transfer the balance or pass to a new card.

Additionally, if you have any unused or remaining value on your expired card, Metro will deduct a $1 administrative fee per month from the stored value. To avoid losing any value, it is recommended to check your card's expiration date and use any remaining value before it expires.

TAP card cost

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) card is a smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport agencies within Los Angeles County, California. The card is available in both physical and electronic forms.

The physical TAP card is a blue, credit-card-sized contactless stored-value smart card, which can be purchased for USD $2. The card can be reloaded with value and used for fare payment on buses and trains. The physical card can be purchased from TAP vendors, TAP vending machines, Metro Customer Service Centers, online, or on Metro buses. The card can be reloaded with value in person or online. The physical TAP card is valid for 15 years.

The electronic TAP card can be acquired through the TAP mobile app or through Apple Wallet. The electronic version is free to use but requires purchasing stored value when adding it to a mobile wallet. The electronic TAP card can be used for contactless payment with the TAP app on iPhones and Android phones.

The TAP card provides benefits such as multimodal travel across bus, rail, and other transit programs, smart chip technology for secure purchases and account management, faster boarding times, and seamless connectivity across 27 municipal transit systems in LA County.

TAP card purchase locations

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) is a smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport in Los Angeles County, California. There are several ways to purchase a TAP card, which costs $2, and load it with Stored Value (cash amount).

On Your Phone

You can purchase a TAP card using the TAP app on your smartphone or smartwatch, or via your Apple Wallet on an iPhone. The fare is ready to use immediately.

In Person

You can buy a TAP card in person at hundreds of locations in LA County, including TAP vendors, TAP vending machines (TVMs), and Metro Customer Service Centers. You can find a TAP vendor or TVM near you by visiting the TAP website.

Online

You can also buy a TAP card online at taptogo.net. You will need to create an account and the card will be mailed to you within 10-15 business days.

By Phone

You can call TAP Customer Service at 866.TAPTOGO (866-827-8646) to purchase a TAP card over the phone. The card will be mailed to you within 10-15 business days.

In addition to these options, you can also buy a TAP card at Metro rail stations, on Metro buses, and at retail locations throughout Los Angeles County.

TAP card payment options

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) card is a smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport in Los Angeles County, California. The card is available in physical or electronic form and offers a range of payment options to suit different user needs.

Physical TAP Card

The physical TAP card is a durable plastic card with a smart chip, available in blue or orange, and can be purchased for $2. It can be loaded with a transit pass or cash balance, with the option to add value at various locations, including TAP vending machines, online, or at Metro Customer Service Centres. The card is valid for 15 years and offers seamless travel across 27 municipal transit systems in LA County.

Electronic TAP Card

The electronic TAP card is a "virtual" card that can be acquired through the TAP mobile app or Apple Wallet, offering convenience and flexibility. It can be used on iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android devices, providing contactless payment options. The electronic card is free of charge and can be loaded with value or passes, similar to its physical counterpart.

Payment Options

TAP cards offer a range of flexible payment methods to cater to different user preferences. These include:

• Credit/Debit Cards
• PayPal
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• PayNearMe (for cash customers)

The availability of various payment options ensures that users can choose the most convenient and accessible method for their needs, making the TAP card a versatile and user-friendly option for public transportation in Los Angeles County.

Frequently asked questions