This form of payment will no longer be accepted by NYC transit starting next year

"First, tokens. Then the MetroCard. Now, the jingle of loose change is heading for retirement. The MTA has announced that beginning in 2026, coins will no longer be accepted as fare payment on New York City buses-marking the first time in history that riders won't be able to pay cash onboard. The decision is part of the agency's ongoing shift to OMNY, the tap-and-go contactless payment system that already accounts for more than half of all transit rides. Riders can pay using a credit card,"

"The change comes alongside fare increases taking effect in January 2026 . The base fare for subways, local buses and Access-A-Ride will rise from $2.90 to $3, while express bus fares will increase from $7 to $7.25. The reduced fare will move from $1.45 to $1.50. Once MetroCards are phased out, the cost of a new OMNY card will rise from $1 to $2, though the MTA notes that OMNY cards "are more durable and last for up to five years.""

""A lot of elderly people are not going to like that since some are used to paying the fare using coins and don't trust using a credit or debit card," commuter Martine Lamarque . Transit advocate Jack Nierenberg also criticized the change, pointing out that "the fee to buy an OMNY card has been hiked, so riders who rely on coins now will have to pay disproportionately more.""

Coins will no longer be accepted onboard New York City buses beginning in 2026, ending onboard cash payments for the first time. The change aligns with the MTA's shift to OMNY, a tap-and-go contactless payment system that already handles over half of transit rides. Coins will still be accepted at subway vending machines and at about 2,700 retailers selling OMNY cards. Fare changes in January 2026 raise base and express fares and increase the price of new OMNY cards. The move aims to speed boarding and cut maintenance, but critics cite equity and access concerns for some riders.

Read at Time Out New York