MTA: Nearly Half Of Bus Riders Don't Pay

The MTA is sounding the alarm on fare evasion on its buses, saying nearly one million riders per day aren't paying.

During the first quarter of 2024, 46.9 percent dodged the fare. That's up from 21 percent in 2020 and it's significantly higher than the 14 percent of subway riders who jump the turnstile. That's costing the agency millions of dollars at a time when it's pushing for congestion pricing to fund infrastructure upgrades and repairs.

The MTA said it has deployed fare inspectors to bus stops to ensure that riders are paying. They have the power to remove people from the bus and even issue tickets with fines of up to $100.

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