$2.90, For A N.Y.C. Subway Ride Crossword Clue

By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 02, 2025

Need help with the "$2.90, for a N.Y.C. subway ride" crossword clue from the May 02, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the correct 4-letter answer for you. For those who enjoy a more interactive solving approach, our page offers several helpful features. You can use our step-by-step letter reveal tool to discover the solution one character at a time, or browse through our carefully curated hints—including public transportation terminology, related vocabulary, and detailed explanations to enhance your understanding. We've also provided convenient navigation to other clues from this puzzle. Ready to solve this transportation-related clue? Let's discover the answer together!

Crossword Answer:

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About This Clue

The May 2, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "$2.90, for a N.Y.C. subway ride" with the answer FARE. This is a straightforward clue that refers to the price paid to use public transportation, specifically the New York City subway system. The clue provides a specific monetary amount ($2.90) and identifies the service (N.Y.C. subway ride), asking solvers to provide the term for this payment. The answer, "fare," is a common term used across various forms of public transportation.

Context for "FARE"

The word "fare" refers to the fee or price paid by passengers for transportation services. It comes from the Old English word "fær," which meant journey or passage. In modern usage, "fare" primarily refers to the cost of traveling on public transportation such as buses, trains, subways, taxis, and airplanes. In public transit systems like the New York City subway, fares are typically fixed regardless of distance traveled (unlike some systems worldwide that charge based on distance). The NYC subway uses a flat fare system, where the same fee allows riders to travel anywhere in the system with free transfers between subway lines. The fare has gradually increased over the years from the original 5 cents in 1904 to the $2.90 referenced in this crossword clue. Fare collection methods have evolved from tokens and cash to MetroCards, and more recently to contactless payment options like OMNY (One Metro New York) that allow riders to tap credit cards or smartphones to pay their fare. Different cities and transit systems have various fare structures, including discounted fares for seniors, students, people with disabilities, and frequent riders. Beyond transportation, the word "fare" can also refer to food (as in "bill of fare" or "standard fare") or to how a person or thing performs or succeeds (as in "how did you fare?"). However, in the context of this crossword clue about a subway ride, the transportation-related meaning is clearly intended.

NYT Mini Crossword Tips

When solving clues like "$2.90, for a N.Y.C. subway ride" in the NYT Mini Crossword, look for specific numeric values paired with services, as these often hint at payment-related terms. In this case, the dollar amount combined with the transportation service points to a term for payment. For transportation-related clues, common crossword-friendly answers include terms like "fare," "fee," "toll," "ticket," or "pass." The length constraint in this case (a 4-letter answer) narrows down the possibilities considerably. New York City references are common in the New York Times crosswords, given the newspaper's home base. Familiarity with NYC-specific terminology, landmarks, and systems (like its subway) can be helpful for regular solvers. When a clue mentions a specific service and an amount, think about what that amount represents—is it a price, fee, discount, tip, tax, etc.? In this case, the amount represents what riders pay to use the subway. The NYT Mini Crossword often includes clues related to everyday life and common knowledge rather than obscure facts. Terms related to daily activities like commuting and public transportation are frequent subjects, making "fare" a typical answer for this type of puzzle.

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