NYC faces surge in bus fare evasion as MTA loses millions in revenue

Every day in New York City, nearly 1 million riders hop on the bus without paying a dime . It's a growing financial crisis for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

This isn't a new problem, but it's certainly a growing one. Before the pandemic, about 1 in 5 riders evaded fares . Now it's closer to every 1 in 2. That means nearly 50% of bus riders skipped the fare, according to the latest data from the first three months of this year.

Those numbers are compared to subway riders, where about 14% of users didn't pay. Despite these numbers, officials have poured resources into policing the subways , deploying officers and private security.

That lack of enforcement is shown to have some consequences. The MTA reported losing $315 million last year from bus fare evasion and another $285 million from subway fare dodgers. The critical loss in revenue comes at a time when the agency is already facing a projected deficit nearing $1 billion by 2028 .

Experts say people aren't paying because of economic hardship, convenience, and a perception that bus fares are optional. There are also safety concerns that have kept bus drivers from confronting fare evaders.

The city seeks to find a solution as it attempts to balance law enforcement and fairness.

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