One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
You Can Now Pay For Your LA Metro Trip With A Flick Of The Wrist
A limited number of new TAP Flex wristbands are being sold at Metro customer centers. (Courtesy Metro Los Angeles)
Wallet fumblers and purse combers rejoice: the days of rummaging about your person or bag in search of your TAP card are over -- if you have $10 and act fast.
After a couple years in development, Los Angeles Metro's new TAP wristbands are now available for transit riders, agency officials announced Monday. A limited number of them, dubbed TAP Flex, are being sold, but only at Metro's customer centers.
The silicone bands come in black or blue and function just like traditional TAP cards, keeping stored values and passes at arm's length. The wristbands work at all Metro validators, gates and fare boxes, and are also valid at all other L.A. County transit agencies that accept TAP.
Metro first began testing wristband prototypes in 2017, studying their potential benefits for riders with disabilities.
Another type of wearable TAP wristband, this one made of elastic fabric, is expected to be released later in August. (Courtesy Metro Los Angeles)
Improving the ease of paying for public transit trips won't stop there, though. Metro officials announced other wearable payment tools are set to be released later this month, including another wristband made of elastic fabric and a mini TAP card for a keychain.
Metro officials added that they're "also working on TAP wearables that can accommodate reduced fare riders."
Sponsored message
Soon you may not even need a physical TAP card or wristband to pay for your train or bus trip. Metro has been working on updating its infrastructure to roll out fare payment through a smartphone app. After some hiccups, agency officials expect to launch the new app this winter.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
