It was MetroCard mayhem at a scorching Upper East Side station this morning, where lines of hostile straphangers were stunned to find that their 30-day passes were no longer working.
Riders at the smoldering 86th Street 4/5/6 station began throwing their MetroCards away, banging the station agent booth window, crying, and forming lines that were 30-people deep at the card vending machines — until one broke down.
Yesterday was the last time that 30-day unlimited MetroCard users could use a card they bought for $81 before the June 28 fare hike. Anyone not using the new $89 card got an infuriating “insufficient fare” message at the turnstile.
The rush hour chaos ensued because the station agent ran out of the paltry 50 pre-paid envelopes she could give to riders that would allow them to mail their not fully-used MetroCards back to the MTA for a pro-rated reimbursement.
“I’m hot, frustrated, and they should have honored the old cards. This is bull,” said Michael Sass, 30, who didn’t get an envelope.
As of 11:15 a.m. the MTA still hadn’t delivered more envelopes to the agent, who put in several requests for them.
At one point, the man who arrived to fix the MetroCard machine had to jump behind the booth to help the station agent handle the crush of riders trying to get information.
“Why didn’t the MTA prepare?” asked Ron Talis, 27, a podiatrist. “It’s an inconvenience. They should have had enough envelopes. They know this is going to happen!”
MTA officials said riders shouldn’t throw the cards away, and they can still be reimbursed.
“We apologize for any inconvenience,” said NYCT spokesman Paul Fleuranges.
“If people have 30-day cards that no longer work, they can send them in to 130 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201. We’ll send you back a check for any days remaining on the card.”
There was no sign in the station that indicated that Aug. 4 was the last day for the 30-day cards. Fleuranges said a sign had been up for weeks, but was removed in the normal rotation.