Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
MTA Loses $8 Million From Bus Fare-Beaters
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 18, 2010
Modified Mar 18, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 18, 2010
Modified Mar 18, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
We already knew that subway fare evasion citations were way down, but it looks like cops aren't much harder on buses. A whopping 6.7 million people skip paying bus fare every year, according to the Daily News, but cops arrested or summonsed just 1,826 bus fare evaders in 2009. As one member of the Straphangers Campaign put it: "You have better odds winning Lotto than you do for getting caught by the NYPD for evading the fare on a bus."
Most people tend to sneak in when the back doors are open, though many find it easy to walk past the driver if the bus is crowded. Factoring in Unlimited-Ride Metrocards, New York City Transit says the average cost of a bus ride is $1.20, and they lose about $8.1 million every year. This of course comes at a time when the MTA is proposing layoffs, service cuts, raised fares and no free student Metrocards because of a budget deficit. What's worse is that bus drivers are instructed not to confront fare evaders because of safety concerns, but rather keep track of them with a counter and let them ride for free.
Luckily, not all bus drivers are listening. In fact, our bus driver this morning flat out yelled, "If you're going to come on through the back door, you better get up here and pay!" The evader sheepishly walked to the front of the bus and paid.
Tagged
budget
bus
citation
fare
fare evasion
MTA
new york city transit
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 2:01 p.m. ET
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
The company blamed ‘macro-economic headwinds.’ The co-founder is suing over compensation.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
The company blamed ‘macro-economic headwinds.’ The co-founder is suing over compensation.
By
Catalina Gonella
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
By
Liam Quigley
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .