NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing for free bus rides in New York City. However, fare evasion on buses is already costing the city close to $1 billion annually. This is according to a recent report by the Citizens Budget Commission.
Eyewitness News watched as fare evasion happened firsthand on the Bx12 in the Bronx and the M15 in Manhattan. They found that in some cases, more than half of passengers were boarding without paying. The problem occurs both at the rear and front doors, even right next to the driver.
“Bus fare evasion is a really big challenge for the MTA. You cannot station a police officer on every single bus. Placing an unarmed guard on each bus is also not feasible,” said Ana Champeny of the Citizens Budget Commission.
Mayor Mamdani recently rode the Q70 bus in Queens. He reiterated his plan for fast and free buses. However, the MTA is moving forward with its own measures. CEO Janno Lieber said the agency plans to hire fare inspectors equipped with handheld devices to check passengers onboard.
“Listen, we’re looking forward to having discussions with the new mayor and his team,” Lieber said. “He’s pro-transit, but we have some complicated issues to work through.”
Governor Kathy Hochul has indicated that the state will not fund free bus programs in the near future.
Fare evasion and subway losses cost the city approximately $900 million last year. The MTA says this money is crucial for keeping buses running and improving transit service.
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