MetroCard FUNERAL Draws Crowds chanting “Swipe!” to Washington Square Park Ahead of OMNY Phase-Out

December 30, 2025 — NEW YORK, NY —
A crowd gathered at Washington Square Park on Monday to mark the impending end of the MetroCard, which is set to be discontinued and fully replaced by the OMNY fare system.

Participants held a mock memorial that included speeches, songs, and a yellow birthday-style cake designed to resemble the iconic MetroCard. At one point, members of the group spread what they described as MetroCard “ashes” from a bowl while chanting and singing lyrics referencing the card’s familiar swipe.
After the park gathering, the group marched to the Broadway–Lafayette Street subway station, chanting “OMNY K!” and reenacting what they called the “last MetroCard swipe.” Video shows the group moving through the newly installed fare gates, where the gates eventually remained open, allowing people to walk through without swiping or tapping.

Police officers were present at the station. According to officers on scene, some said they do not yet personally have OMNY cards.

The event coincided with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s transition away from MetroCards in favor of OMNY, a contactless payment system that has already been widely rolled out across New York City’s transit network.

Event was organized by Waffle Kozik, Dupree God and Kiing Spider