Fare Evasion

Sepia-toned photo of New York City subway turnstiles.

NYC Tests New Subway Gates to Limit Fare Evasion

The mayor has taken a strong interest in enforcing fare collection at the city’s transit stations.

December 10, 2023 - Curbed

Sound Transit

Sound Transit to Start Enforcing Fare Violations This Month

After two warnings, riders who fail to show proof of payment can be issued fines.

November 5, 2023 - Mass Transit

Transit fare purchase box at above-ground transit station in Santa Clara, California.

Opinion: Fare Evasion Punished Disproportionately in California

A bill currently on Governor Newsom’s desk would replace punitive measures with more equitable and compassionate approaches to fare enforcement.

October 2, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Silver turnstiles at a subterranean subway station

Opinion: Fare Evasion Is a Red Herring

The loss of revenue from fare evasion is a drop in the bucket compared to the fiscal cliff facing major U.S. transit agencies.

September 13, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

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

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