New Yorkers Just Stopped Paying For The Bus...

Summary

The video highlights the growing issue of fare evasion on New York City's public buses, where 48% of riders skip paying. This is causing significant financial strain on the MTA, potentially leading to service cuts. Enforcement efforts have been slow, with many criticizing the unreliable bus service as a reason for non-payment. The city's previous reliance on congestion pricing to fund public transit was blocked, leaving the MTA struggling to recoup losses. The video explores the impact of fare evasion and questions whether stricter enforcement or making buses free is the solution.

Takeaways

• 🚍 Nearly half of New York City bus riders (48%) are evading fares, which is contributing to the financial struggles of the MTA.
• 💸 Fare evasion on buses costs the MTA about $315 million annually, and on subways, another $285 million is lost due to fare-jumping.
• 🛑 Fare enforcement has historically been minimal on buses, with most riders evading fares without consequence, leading to a growing problem.
• 👮 The MTA and NYPD are now cracking down on fare evasion by issuing summonses to offenders, but critics question whether this will effectively deter non-payers.
• 💰 If everyone paid their bus fares, the MTA could collect an additional half a billion dollars yearly, potentially saving the bus system from service cuts.
• 🚶 Some bus riders evade fares because they feel the bus service is unreliable and not worth paying for, with delays, skipped stops, and slow travel times cited as reasons.
• 🏙️ The city had planned to rely on congestion pricing to fund public transit, but this plan was blocked, leaving the MTA without a major revenue source.
• 🔍 Critics argue that fare enforcement unfairly targets low-income individuals, while others say it's necessary to save the bus system from collapse.
• 📉 Fare evasion has worsened since 2020, when rear-door boarding was encouraged for health reasons, creating a habit of non-payment.
• 🚔 Despite the recent crackdown, there are only 200 enforcement teams for over 300 bus routes, making it difficult to catch enough offenders to change behavior.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video transcript?

The main issue discussed is the significant problem of fare evasion on buses in New York City, where almost 50% of bus riders do not pay the fare, leading to massive financial losses for the city's public transit system.

How much revenue is the MTA losing due to fare evasion?

The MTA is losing around $600 million a year due to fare evasion, with $315 million lost from bus fare evasion and $285 million from subway fare evasion.

Why do some people choose not to pay the bus fare?

Some people choose not to pay the bus fare because they feel the service is unreliable, slow, and not worth the cost. Others may not be able to afford it.

What has been the city's response to the growing fare evasion problem?

The city has deployed enforcement teams called 'Eagle teams' and partnered with the NYPD to issue fines and summonses to fare evaders in an effort to address the problem.

Why did fare evasion increase during the events of 2020?

Fare evasion increased in 2020 because the city encouraged rear-door boarding for health and safety reasons, which allowed riders to bypass the front of the bus where the fare is collected.

What are the arguments in favor of and against fare evasion crackdowns?

Proponents argue that fare evasion crackdowns are necessary to save the transit system from financial collapse. Critics, however, believe crackdowns unfairly target low-income individuals who cannot afford to pay.

What is one proposed solution to improve fare enforcement on buses?

One proposed solution is to have officers randomly check passengers’ payment records during their ride and offer them the option to pay a reduced fine on the spot if they hadn’t paid the fare.

Why is it difficult for the city to crack down on fare evasion?

It is difficult for the city to crack down on fare evasion because there are too few enforcement teams (only 200) compared to the vast number of bus stops (over 300), making it easy for fare evaders to avoid getting caught.

What suggestion has been made by some officials regarding fare collection?

Some officials have suggested making buses free for everyone, which would cost the city around $800 million annually, but they argue this could be a more practical solution than trying to enforce fares.

How might bus service improve to encourage more people to pay?

Bus service could improve by reducing delays caused by cars blocking bus lanes. The city plans to equip buses with cameras to issue fines to vehicles that obstruct bus lanes, which could lead to faster and more reliable service.