Every weekday in New York City, close to one million bus riders—roughly one out of every two passengers—board without paying. This skipped fare issue is a critical revenue loss for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is facing severe financial pressures. Fare evasion, particularly on buses, has escalated notably since the pandemic, falling from one in five to nearly half of bus riders failing to pay. While subway fare evasion catches more public attention, bus fare evasion constitutes a far greater problem in terms of lost revenue.
The M.T.A. reported that in 2022, it lost $315 million due to bus fare evasion—a staggering amount compared to the $285 million in subway fare loss. Despite the financial implications, public officials often focus enforcement efforts on the subway, with police officers and private security deployed heavily there, creating a notable disparity in enforcement between the two systems. Given the overwhelming number of bus riders evading fare payments, experts suggest a reevaluation of strategies might be critical for addressing the significant revenue losses.
#fare-evasion #metropolitan-transportation-authority #new-york-city #public-transit #financial-losses
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