As I pointed out here, the most recent data out of New York City shows that only half of people riding the bus are paying the fare. It’s not the sexiest of stories out there but it is a big deal because it potentially has serious implications for the city moving forward.
In 2022 alone, the city estimates that it lost $315 million because of fare evasion on the buses, and that was before the rate of fare evasion reached its current record high. Monday the MTA posted a statement explaining why it was important to pay the fare [emphasis added]:
Paying the fare make your bus system possible. The MTA uses your fares to hire more bus operators and mechanics, expand and modernize our fleet, and improve frequency and reliability. When you pay your fares, you are helping us deliver better service to the over two million New Yorkers who rely on buses every single day.
Without your fare, we…
