Fitbit Tap-And-Pay Coming To NYC Transit

Fitbit has announced that Fitbit Pay will be a part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) One Metro New York (OMNY) contactless fare payment pilot program.

Through the program, any user in New York with Fitbit Charge 3 Special Edition, Fitbit Versa Special Edition or Fitbit Ionic devices will be able to securely tap and pay-per-ride directly from their wrist on select MTA buses and subway lines. Starting on May 31, users with Fitbit Pay-enabled smartwatches and trackers can tap and pay to ride all Staten Island buses, as well as on the 4, 5 and 6 subway lines between Grand Central and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center.

“We’re excited to work with Fitbit and others to help us provide added value and everyday convenience to our customers,” Al Putre, OMNY Executive Director at the MTA, said in a press release. “We are always looking for ways to enhance the transit experience and help New Yorkers and visitors alike get to their destination faster and make payment more convenient, and now they can do so with any Fitbit wearable that supports Fitbit Pay with a simple tap of the wrist.”

In addition, Fitbit Pay can now be used across seven open and closed loop transit systems, including Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA), Sydney transport for New South Wales (NSW) train, ferry and light rail services, Taiwan iPASS, TransLink in Vancouver and Transport for London (TfL). There are plans to bring Fitbit Pay to more global transit systems in the future.

“In addition to helping our users get healthier and more active, we’re committed to delivering holistic experiences on our trackers and smartwatches that help keep our 27 million active users engaged,” said James Park, CEO and co-founder of Fitbit. “As we expand the use of Fitbit Pay to work with the MTA and other major transit systems around the globe, we are enabling our on-the-go customers to safely and easily pay for transit with devices that are broadly compatible and have long battery life – all making it easier to go about their day.”