I’m not too sure how many New Yorkers are reading this blog, now that I’m also New York-based. Maybe this question will serve to smoke out some citydwellers:

How much of a balance do you typically have on your MetroCard?

I ask because I just reloaded mine to the tune of $30. At two bucks a pop for subway (and bus? which I never take) rides, I realize that shouldn’t last too long. But really, I’m walking a lot on a daily basis, and duck into the subway only if I’m in a real hurry (rare) or there’s really bad weather above ground (not really the case of late). So I’m swiping my MetroCard a couple of times a week right now, tops.

Which is why I’m slightly paranoid about having put such a relatively big sum on the card this time around. I’m thinking that it’s now going to fly out of my hand and drop down a sewer grating, jilting me out of my modest investment before I get a chance to use most of it. The fact that I pretty much never lose things like that doesn’t factor into this irrationality.

So, did I overdo it on the MetroCard refresh? Should I stick to a lower (10 bucks or so) constant balance? Maybe some NYC veterans can enlighten.