Are you upset about endless fare hikes every two years?
Yeah, us too. We want to stop those hikes, and make the city find other ways to fund the subway, like for instance renegotiating the derivatives contracts that Wall St suckered them into.
We’ve tried to talk to them. But they won’t listen. So we have to protest. We would boycott the subway, if we could. But since it’s an essential public service, we need it, to get to our jobs and live our lives.
So instead of boycotting, we find ways to express our protest, like this: If you use your unlimited card to swipe someone else in, then you’re effectively helping them boycott the fare hike, sort of like boycotting it forward.
Since you’re giving the swipe away, not selling it, this is perfectly legal. (Note: as we’re all probably aware, things being legal does not tend to stop the police from harassing people. If you are hassled by the NYPD on this, either as recipient or giver of a swipe, contact the National Lawyers Guild at 212 679 6018.) Even better, it’s an easy, effective, way to tell the MTA to “take a hike”.
Look for people on the subway with the Swipe Back buttons. It means they can give you a swipe, or that they support the idea! If you want to distribute buttons too, email us!.
Sources on legal status of giving people swipes:
Most importantly, it’s legal to swipe anyone at any time, as long as you’re not selling the ride.
Pay It Forward: Groups Responds to Subway Fare Hike With Free Swipes
“As long as they’re not charging people [for swipes], we can’t stop them from buying the cards and providing the service free to the people,” MTA spokesperson Paul Fleuranges told The Indypendent.