Riding The Mta Bus: Payment Methods Explored

There are several ways to pay for a ride on an MTA bus in New York City. The OMNY card is a popular option, which you can tap to pay your fare with a contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device. OMNY cards are available at vending machines in many subway stations and retail locations. You can also pay with a MetroCard, coins, or a SingleRide ticket. Local, SBS, and Limited buses cost $2.90 for most riders, while express buses cost $7. People with qualifying disabilities, those over 65, or those in a low-income bracket may be eligible for reduced fares.

Paying with a MetroCard

MetroCards are available for purchase from vending machines at subway stations and MTA Transit Stores. They cost $1 and are refillable. You can also buy them from sales buses and vans.

To pay for your ride on a local or limited bus, board through the front door and insert your MetroCard into the farebox near the driver. The card should be inserted with the logo facing you and the black magnetic strip on the right side. Your fare will be automatically deducted, and the card will pop back out.

On Select Bus Service (SBS) buses, you can board at any door. You will need to pay your fare at a MetroCard Machine on the sidewalk at a Select Bus Service station stop. Push the start button, insert your MetroCard, take your receipt, and keep it during your ride. You can then enter through any of the three doors.

If you are transferring to another bus or the subway, your connecting transfer data is encoded on your MetroCard, so you can transfer by using your MetroCard.

If you are transferring from the subway or another bus to an SBS bus, you will need to insert your MetroCard into the MetroCard Fare Collector machine and obtain a proof-of-payment receipt. You can then enter the SBS bus through any door.

If you are transferring to another SBS route, insert your MetroCard into the MetroCard fare machine associated with the new route. You will be issued a new ticket, which you should keep throughout your ride.

Paying with a credit/debit card

You can pay for your MTA bus fare using a contactless credit or debit card. Simply tap your card on the OMNY reader, a rectangular screen near the driver, when you board the bus. You can board through the front doors on local, limited, and express buses, or any door on Select Bus Service (SBS) buses.

If you are using a phone or other mobile device, you may need to open your "wallet" app, depending on your device. Express Mode on Apple phones works with OMNY, so you can just tap and go.

OMNY is available on all MTA-operated local, limited, and SBS routes in New York City, as well as express buses. With OMNY, you can pay your fare with your phone, credit or debit card, or other wearable devices.

You can also earn free rides by tapping. OMNY caps your weekly fares at $34 when you tap the same card or device for every ride. This gives you the benefits of a 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard without having to pay in advance.

If you are riding an SBS bus, you can skip the sidewalk kiosks and board through any door using a contactless card or digital wallet. Just tap your card on the OMNY reader.

Please note that the OMNY fare-capping program does not apply to express buses.

Paying with a smartphone

You can pay for your MTA bus fare with your smartphone. You don't need to sign up or download an app to use this payment method. Simply use your smartphone to tap and go. When boarding the bus, tap your smartphone at the OMNY reader, a rectangular screen near the driver, immediately after entering the bus. If you are using a phone or other mobile device, you may need to open your "wallet" app, depending on your device. Express Mode on Apple phones works with OMNY, so you can just tap and go.

You can also use your smartphone to pay for your subway fare at turnstiles as you enter the station. You don't need to do anything else after tapping to pay.

Paying with exact change in coins

If you are paying with coins, you will need to board the MTA bus in New York City through the front door. You can pay your fare at a MetroCard Machine or a Coin Machine.

Paying at the MetroCard Machine

First, push the start button. Next, insert your coins. Take the receipt and keep it with you during your ride. You can then enter through any of the three doors.

Paying at the Coin Machine

Insert your coins and take the receipt. Keep the receipt during your ride and enter through any of the three doors.

Proof of Payment

Customers will be issued a proof-of-payment receipt from the ticket vending machine, which they must hold onto during their trip. At random, MTA fare inspectors will request to view proof of payment receipts. Receipts are valid for one hour from the time of purchase on the same Select Bus Service line and in the same direction. Anyone who does not have a valid receipt will be issued a fare evasion summons by the fare inspector.

Transfers

If you paid with coins and need to transfer to another bus or the subway, enter through the front door of the bus, present your Select Bus Service receipt to the bus operator, and request a transfer, which will be issued from the fare box. You can use your transfer on the subway or on another bus. Please be sure to hold on to your receipt of payment while riding the Select Bus Service.

Paying with a SingleRide ticket

SingleRide tickets are available for those who don't want to use a MetroCard or OMNY card. You can pay for your MTA bus fare with a SingleRide ticket. SingleRide tickets are available from ticket kiosks on the sidewalk, near the bus stop. Press the start button on the kiosk, then insert your SingleRide ticket as shown. The kiosk will print a paper SBS ticket for you to keep. You must keep this ticket with you for the duration of your trip.

SingleRide tickets can also be purchased with exact change in coins. Look for a sidewalk kiosk with a slot for coins instead of a MetroCard. Insert your exact change (maximum 25 coins, no change provided) and the kiosk will print a paper SBS ticket for you to keep. Again, you must keep this ticket with you throughout your trip.

If there is no kiosk at your stop, you can board the bus and get a ticket from a MetroCard Fare Collector machine when you exit.

SingleRide tickets are not valid for express buses.

Frequently asked questions