2019 Eat Shop Play Local TAP Card

Three TAP Cards within a week!!  Yes, this Eat Shop Play Local TAP Card was the third TAP Card I added to my collection within a week!  I got the Charles White TAP Card, then the Eat Shop Play Crenshaw, and now the Eat Shop Play Local!!

This TAP Card was given out at the really cool Photoville event in Century City!  Photoville had storage containers with photos both on the inside and outside of the container.  It's a free event, and there are some cool pictures!

The Eat Shop Play Local TAP Cards are given out at businesses that are effected by the construction of new Metro train lines.  In 2019, the have TAP cards with the neighborhood on the TAP card.  There is a Koreatown Eat Shop Play TAP Card that is out, but I haven't added that to my collection yet.

Yes, this is different than the 2017 Eat Shop Play Local TAP Card, the 2019 Eat Shop Play Local TAP Cards have the two palms trees on the and the Eat Shop Play is horizontally placed on the card.

This is a nice addition to my TAP Card collection!

2019 Eat Shop Play Crenshaw TAP Card

Eat Shop Play is a program that supports businesses that are effected by the construction of new Metro train lines.  Early I got the Eat Shop Play DTLA TAP Card.

Metro hosted a community meeting for the Crenshaw Line in Inglewood.  They talked about the progress of the Crenshaw Line.  During the meeting they gave away this Eat Shop Play TAP Card.

Two TAP Cards to my collection within four days!!

2019 Charles White LACMA TAP Card

On April 15, 2019 LACMA tweeted they were partnering with Metro on a new TAP Card, the Charles White TAP Card.  Charles White is a well known artist, and one of his students, Richard Wyatt, has done many art projects with Metro. At Union Station, there is his mural- City of Dream/River City.

If you went to LACMA on April 20, 2019, with paid general admission you got a free Charles White TAP Card!  They said they expected the TAP Cards to go quickly. 

I took the Purple Line to Wilshire and Vermont, then took the 720 Rapid bus.  The jerk bus driver told me, the 720 doesn't go to LACMA, and told to me exit at Crenshaw.  I know LACMA is near the intersection of Fairfax and Wilshire.  I also know that the 720 Rapid stays on Wilshire, even past Fairfax.

Despite the jerk bus driver, I got the LACMA about ten minutes after they opened.  I went to the box office, paid my admission, and got the TAP Card.

This is an neat design.  But, to be honest, I thought Charles White was the former USC and LA Rams running back. 

2019 LA Marathon TAP Card

The 2019 Los Angeles Marathon TAP Card was issued only to runners for the LA Marathon. They were not suppose to be sold by Metro.  But, typical Metro, apparently some of these TAP Cards were sold at Metro customer service centers.

I was able to trade a LAFC TAP card for this LA Marathon TAP Card.  I saw a guy wearing a LAFC cap, and he had his LA Marathon bag.  I asked him if he would trade one of the LA Marathon TAP Cards for an LAFC TAP Card.  He agreed!  The LA Marathon website says 24,000 runners will run the 2019 LA Marathon.  Each runner got two tap cards.

This is a cool design with the route of the LA Marathon. 

2019 Eat Shop Play DTLA

Back in 2017 Metro issued Eat Shop Play TAP Cards in areas that were effected by construction of the Regional Connector, Purple Line Extension, and the Crenshaw Line.  You would go to a business that has partnered with Metro, buy something and you would get the Eat Shop Play TAP Card.

In 2019, Metro issued the Eat Shop Play DTLA TAP Card. At first, it looks the same with the Eat Shop Play, but they added DTLA at the end. with two palm trees.  This version will have neighborhoods effected by the construction of new rail lines.

A nice TAP Card to add to my collection.

2019 Metro Valentine's Day Hearts TAP Cards

January 23, 2019- After the disaster with The Movement TAP Cards, on social media a few people got the Valentine's Day "Hearts" TAP Cards.  One person said Union Station had them, and another person said they were at the Jefferson/La Cienega station along the Expo Line and along the Orange Line.  I went to Downtown Azusa first, but the TAP cards weren't being sold there.  Still no stickers on the machines.  Then I went to Sierra Madre Station and still no stickers.  Maybe the Gold Line is getting shut out on these Valentine's Day Hearts TAP Cards!

I saw the stickers for each of the TAP Cards at Union Station, and I put in my money in, and the cards came out.  Still nothing on Metro's social media or propaganda machine, The Source, about the Valentines's Day Hearts or The Movement TAP Cards!

All three are pretty cool.  The Green background says Crazy 4 TAP.  The Orange background says XOXO TAP.  The red background says I Love TAP.

Update January 25, 2019.  Finally The Source, Metro's propaganda machine, has posted a story about the Valentine's Day TAP Cards!  The story says these Valentine's Day TAP Cards are not available at downtown Azusa-which is interesting because one of the TAP Cards- the blue Crazy 4 TAP, had a sticker at the Downtown Azusa station.  But, they are being sold at the Sierra Madre Station, but they weren't there on January 23, the day I went.  

Update January 29, 2019.  I went to the Downtown Azusa station and two TAP machines had the stickers for the Valentine's Day TAP Cards!! Downtown Azusa is NOT listed as one of the station where these TAP Cards are being sold!  Why can't Metro get things right? 

2019 The Movement TAP Cards

Sunday, January 20, 2019.  Not a good way to start 2019!  Metro had The Hearts stick on the tap machines, but instead I got three different Join The Movement TAP Cards.  There has been no mention of these TAP cards, all six, on any of Metro's social media or websites.

Sierra Madre Villa Station.  I noticed the I Love Tap sticker and put money in. I got the Red The Movement TAP Cards.

I went to the Monrovia Station Saw the XOXO TAP sticker, put in my money and got the green Ride The Movement TAP card.  Then I wanted to buy another green Ride The Movement TAP card, put in my money but the TAP card did NOT come out!  I called the worthless agent, he said "I can only let the service techs know." Moron!

So, then I went to downtown Azusa station.  I saw the Crazy 4 TAP sticker, on the side going to APU/Citrus, put in my money and got the blue and orange Join The Movement TAP Card!!  Then I noticed another TAP machine, going to East LA, had the hearts sticker, put my money in and got TWO green Ride The Movement TAP Cards.  So, that made up for not getting the TAP card from Monrovia.

But, it does not make up for the wrong TAP card pictured on the machines!!  How can they make such a bad mistake!!  Terrible!

Update  Tuesday January 22, 2019

Still nothing on Metro's social media or their propaganda machine The Source.

On Monday January 21, 2019, I called TAP and told them about the issues with the TAP machines and wrong stickers.  Since I two of the Green The Movement TAP cards, with fare, at Downtown Azusa, I didn't ask for a refund, after not getting the Green The Movement TAP card at the Monrovia station.  The TAP service rep was very nice and helpful.

I went back to the Downtown Azusa station and both TAP machines do not have the stickers!  I guess Metro finally got a clue!  A bunch of morons working for Metro.

As for the "Hearts" TAP Card, they are a Valentine's Day TAP Card and are suppose to be released in early Feb! 

Update March 1, 2019:

Metro finally has information on The Movement TAP Cards.