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The colorful day passes that were released just a few years ago will be a thing of the past starting next month. As of March 15, the $5 fare for day passes will be on the new electronic, reusable and refillable TAP cards that were previously only available for monthly and weekly passes. With these, you can pre-load up to eight days worth of day passes.
And until April 11 or as supplies last, the $2 cards will be free when you purchase a day pass on a bus (the machines at train or Orange Line stations will not disperse them yet, but you can load money on to them there).
As for using TAP for single rides, it is unknown when that function will be released (we're awaiting an answer from Metro and will update this post when we know).
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The TAP cards have always kind of confused me... how do the random ticket-checker people check your TAP card? Do they have a machine that they can swipe it on to make sure you've paid for your ride?
Also, I hope they can figure out how to get those machines at the rail stations to disperse TAP cards soon...
Yeah, the Sheriff's and ticket checkers have TAP swipers, so beware!
I wish they could roll out more features sooner and at once. I've had a TAP card since November, but can't load anything practical for me on it while I'm at a Red Line station (i.e. single trip, day pass, or just $20 to put towards trips) and when I try to use the TAP website to load money on it (which, again, seems limited to monthly passes) I can't even determine how to register the card I have; it seems that unless you buy your card from the site, you can't register it to the site. Incidentally, my TAP card was...sent to me by Metro (when I moved this fall).
To answer FutureShipwreck, I would assume a driver would have a TAP sensor installed on their vehicle. Now, if you're on a train and the Sheriff asks for "proof of fare" I doubt they'll have a TAP scanner. But remember, we're (supposedly) getting fare gates in all stations over the next couple of years, so that will elminitate that problem.
What about tokens, will those still be good? I have several bags from a few years back when they sold 10 for $9 and I stocked up. If the MTA rejects those I'll be sad to say goodbye to my 90-cent fare.
It seams, once again, LA has missed it with mass transit. I moved to a new area where I could use the redline to get to work in downtown on days when I did not need my car. The new TAP cards are nothing more than a plastic day,week, or monthly pass that expire just like the paper passes but require a large dollar investiment in equipment. If I was in Chicago, Boston or NY I can but a TAP type card that debits by trip and can be used, recharged and don't expire. I was told by the TAP rep that the way I use the system I should buy tokens, which are by the way, are collector items in most major cities. LA transit needs to relook at this issue and I need to get back in my car; a least for now.