Paying for Metro will soon be easier and faster with just a tap of your credit card

How several times have you been standing in front of the SmarTrip card machine and someone new to the D C area or a tourist looks at you pleading for help More Metro stories Clearing up the confusion around Metro s Better Bus systemwide overhaul DC metro almost tops a list for working mothers Does affect business Bethesda businesses get financial relief to offset losses from Purple Line construction Soon that may be a thing of the past thanks to Tap Ride Go The system allows people to pay for their Metrorail rides right at the turnstile by tapping their credit card debit card or phone Metro General Manager Randy Clarke commented testing has started at a variety of stations and is scheduled to be available systemwide by the end of the month At the moment employees and assistants are taking part in the test This could not come at a better time with millions of people expected to visit Washington D C during WorldPride which starts this weekend WTOP went inside the Metro Center station to ask riders about their thoughts on Tap Ride Go One of those who is ready to use the system is lifelong Washingtonian Seven She narrated WTOP she started using her phone to pay after adding her SmarTrip card to her Apple Wallet It s so much easier Seven reported I can tap it even if my phone is locked A person who hoped the new payment system had already started was Ken Winkler The owner of the boutique advance concierge the Curated Trip plans vacations for people around the world Winkler disclosed he points out to his clients that when they load up a SmarTrip card they will inevitably come home with extra money on the card which will be wasted It s a lot less efficient than being able to tap in and tap out Winkler declared I can t imagine who wouldn t want it It seems incredibly efficient and easy It moves people through faster There s a ton of benefits and I don t see a downside Not everyone is trilling the praises of Tap Ride Go I would not Pamala of Baltimore City reported of using her phone to pay for Metro I don t trust having all those things connected to my phone When appealed if she would be sticking with her SmarTrip card she laughed and announced Yes I m old school Source