MTA: Half of NYC bus riders are cheating the fare

The MTA estimates that nearly half of bus riders in New York City do not pay the fare and end up riding for free.

FOX 5 NY delivers breaking news, live events, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from New York City and across the nation.

Watch more FOX 5 NY on YouTube:

[zq]

This is a real problem. I usually found myself the only one paying. And the driver doesn’t get paid enough to confront maniacs, psychos or gangs

[justind]

You will never see police on the bus rush hour

[Ms_T_Perfectly_Imperfect]

I just came off a bus where a woman walked on without paying and had the audacity to ask the driver if there's a reason he was driving so slow. People have a warped sense of entitlement these days that goes unchecked because they think others will pay their way. It's disgusting to see it from young and old.

[Glowsaphinebaker]

3 dollars for a bus ride is criminal… open up the mts books.. this has been happening for decades…decades…. How about you let us see where our money is going

[stelity]

Half of the bus riders don't pay? well, that's improved a lot.

[louisroselli-eibd]

It's way more than 50%, at night it's about 1 in 25 at night.

[carmellem]

How about giving riders better service. Imagine waiting 30 minutes for your bus to work, and when you finally get it, you can't fit in

[mineolahome]

No enforcement and, if there is, there are NO consequences!!

[BrklynBread]

The MTA is a mess. Fares have risen but the quality of service continues to get worse. The bus i take to work is never on time, the route is undermanned so the buses are overly crowded, and most of the time the bus hasent been cleaned so it smells and various seats have litter on them.

[H.b]

Why worry about bus evaders when they can’t even protect the border 😂

[pjcasale]

More than half of the riders don’t pay. Wait until the M116 goes back to requiring fares….no one will pay on that route.

[wolfcruz]

Too many people aren't paying their fare. I've seen it.

[ashleypeterson]

It should be free with the high cost of food, gas, rent etc...

[petefaders]

2.90 is too much. They pay enough in taxes, it should be free. Change the headline to half of all riders pay too much.

[luegi]

MTA can afford useless big screen tvs, nice stations in nice neighborhoods, gun detectors in neighborhoods that don't even need it but can't even protect the citizens who ride it everyday.

[dhughes]

We already pay through taxes enough. Cut it out. Straining money from people who are already suffering from an inflation ridden, low waged, over taxed economy.

[EmJhay-bw]

How is raising fares going to reduce the mta’s alleged debt? With the mta service being mediocre and a government screwing us over people will always ride for free Besides that there’s no honor among thieves

[tsuyoshinyc]

We should be provided a good service. 3 buses in a row then no bus for the next 30 minutes? Leaving us in a bus for 15 minutes on the middle of the route for switching drivers? Many people are fed up and don't want to pay for the horrendous service.

[adelnagi]

Pay your fair and go or Arrested and prison what do you like.!?

[rubytuesday]

They kill me with the third world country crap. Tell transit to stop.raising the fare for people to be late to their destination, tell transit to cleanthe the disgusting dirty stations platforms, trains and elevators. MTA wants so much more more for less.