Fare Evasion

Empty fare turnstiles at New York City subway station

How Transit Agencies Are Approaching Fare Evasion

While some of the country’s largest transit operators are cracking down on fare dodgers with expensive—and often cumbersome—turnstiles and gates, others are looking deeper to address the root causes of fare evasion.

April 20, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

MBTA Bus

MBTA Announces Improved Bus Frequencies, Redesigned Route Map in Boston

A large system redesign is nearing implementation in and around Boston, but the new system map will require more drivers than the MBTA currently employs.

November 21, 2022 - The Boston Globe

BART Fare Gate

Policy Change That Could End the Disproportionate Targeting of Black Transit Riders

Having experienced improper detainment by transit police officers, National City Housing Advisory Committee Commissioner Marcus Bush calls for substantive change in transit fare enforcement systems.

August 20, 2020 - Voice of San Diego

Subway Turnstiles

The Onion Satirizes New York's Fare Enforcement Techniques, Over Spending on Transit

Two jokes in one: The Onion reports a totally fake news story about New York builds a super expensive fake subway station just to bust fare evaders.

November 8, 2019 - The Onion

Sound Transit

Seattle Fare Enforcement Disproportionately Punishes Blacks, Data Show

Sound Transit says its fare enforcement system is design to be unbiased, but analysis about fare evader data indicates disparities.

October 11, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Governor Andrew Cuomo

Friday Funny: Who's Neglecting Transit Payments Now?

Satirical news website The Onion turns up the heat on New York politicians, this time flipping the tables of the fare evasion debate.

August 2, 2019 - The Onion

BART Fare Gate

New BART Fare Gates Raise Questions About Hostile Design

How far is BART willing to go to stop people from jumping fare gates? Social media users have called new fare gates "skull crushers" and "inverted guillotines."

July 29, 2019 - KQED

SEPTA Token

Fare Evasion 'Quietly' Decriminalized in Philadelphia

More social justice advocates in more cities are winning the argument that transit fare evasion punishments don't fit the crime.

April 3, 2019 - PlanPhilly

MBTA Bus

MBTA Will Move to Proof-of-Payment System

A new plan will phase out cash fare payments on buses and trolleys, but many of the details are still up in the air.

March 6, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Dutch Fyra Train

The Netherlands Seeks Less Confrontational Strategies to Stop Fare Evasion

Rather than simply being punitive, the Dutch rail carrier is trying to find cost effective ways to collect fares and make riders feel welcome.

January 18, 2019 - CityLab

Subway Turnstiles

Penalties for Fare Evasion Not a Good Look

Stiff penalties for transit fare evasion have come under fire as a tool of discrimination, and cities have taken notice.

December 13, 2018 - Governing

Washington, D.C.

One Step Closer to Decriminalizing Fare Evasion in D.C.

The D.C. Council voted, 11-2, to decriminalize fare evasion on the D.C. Metro transit system. The council will have to vote one more time to confirm the new policy.

November 14, 2018 - The Washington Post

Wheelchair Accessible

6 Rules for a More Equitable Transit System

Transit can advance social equity and provide access to opportunity—but only if agencies work for inclusive planning and resource allocation.

July 23, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Portland Oregon Bus

Portland Lowers Penalties for Fare Evasion

Fines will be waived for low-income riders, among other changes aimed at bringing "fairness and equity" to TriMet's enforcement system.

March 12, 2018 - KOIN6

Farebox

D.C. Makes the Case for Decriminalizing Fare Evasion

The District may soon remove criminal penalties from fare evasion with a proposal that would lower fines and strike the possibility of jail time.

November 21, 2017 - The Washington Post

Metro Fare

Manhattan District Attorney Decides to Let Fare Evasion Slide

Most of the few people that are jumping fares on the New York subway are doing so out of necessity. One branch of the city government has decided that busting fare evaders isn't worth the trouble.

September 5, 2017 - Marketplace

Curitiba

All-Door Boarding a Missed Opportunity in NYC

American transit systems are increasingly moving to structures that allow pre-paying and all-door boarding. David Meyer argues that these systems have proven their worth and fears of fare evasion aren't enough to justify inferior services.

November 16, 2016 - StreetsBlog NYC

Los Angeles Losing Trust in its Transit Riders

After years of lost revenue from fare evaders, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is looking to implement gate-locking at Metro rail stations within six months, reports Ari Bloomekatz.

February 27, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

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