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.

1 minute read

August 2, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Governor Andrew Cuomo

lev radin / Shutterstock

Fare evasion: the illegal behavior of not paying for the use of a public transit system, of varying criminality depending on the jurisdiction and the levels of enforcement from police forces.

In the United States, transportation systems in Philadelphia, Portland, and Washington, D.C. have decriminalized fare evasion, while others, like in the San Francisco Bay Area, have turned to more draconian measures to curb the behavior. Researchers and advocates suggest there might be better ways to approach fare evasion.

Systematic neglect of public transit is both cultural and political, however, and the fake news website The Onion has focused on the role of New York politicians in failing to overcome political ambition to maintain the city's infrastructure. Last week, The Onion took on Mayor Bill de Blasio, campaigning for president while the city flooded. This week, it's Governor Andrew Cuomo. The totally fake, satirical article is actually just a headline—"Police Apprehend Man For Repeatedly Failing To Pay For Subway"—followed by a photo of the governor.  

To be fair, sometimes New York's transportation problems result from spending too much on transit.

Thursday, August 1, 2019 in The Onion

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today