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Comment by Animats | Hacker News Reader

It's a good system. The fact that the hacker crowd hasn't even figured out the basics yet is amusing.

MetroCards are validated by both the station computer and the central data center. Once a card has been used, it can't be used again for 18 minutes. This makes copies of cards almost useless. There's a lot of mutual mistrust designed into the system. The MTA isn't stupid.

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> Once a card has been used, it can't be used again for 18 minutes

I'm not sure what you mean. I've used mine twice in quick succession to pay for a friend.

That limit does not apply to prepaid MetroCards at the same station. What the OP is referring to is that one cannot clone an unlimited weekly or monthly card while having it be useful. They have a 18 min lock out. Using a prepaid card repeatedly will just drain the value of that card.

Thanks for clarifying.

That's unfortunate. There were definitely times when I lived in NYC (pre-Metrocard) when I took two rides within 18 minutes (take short ride, jump out of station for quick errand, come back in for next part of journey). Are you saying that would not be possible?

Nope, that's only for the same station. Assuming you swipe into station A, exit station B, and swipe again at station B, you're fine.

If you swipe into station A, realise you got into the wrong entrance, you can usually just walk to the 24-hour booth and ask them to let you in the gate.

Also you can walk to another station.

Its 18 minutes at the same station. Not that I would, but you could give it to a few close friends without it ever being an issue. You might need an additional, non-unlimited card, for when you meet up with them some where in the city.

I'm not sure whether MTA is smart enough to catch on to that or not.

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