Using a contactless debit card with the OMNY system in New York City is incredibly simple: you just "Tap and Go" at the reader located at any subway turnstile or on any MTA bus. There is no need to stand in line at a vending machine or pre-load a separate card. When you see the OMNY reader (the black screen with a light bar), simply hold your contactless debit card (look for the "wave" symbol on the card) or your mobile device (Apple Pay/Google Pay) near the screen. The screen will instantly flash "Go," and your account will be charged the standard $2.90 fare. A major benefit of using the same card consistently is "Fare Capping": once you reach 12 taps in a 7-day period (Monday–Sunday) using the same card or device, all subsequent rides for the rest of that week are free. It is critical to use the same physical card or the same digital wallet for every ride to qualify for the cap; for example, if you tap your physical card in the morning and your phone in the afternoon, OMNY treats them as two separate accounts and won't combine them toward the free rides. You can also create an OMNY account online to track your trips and see how close you are to the free ride threshold.