Satirical news website The Onion turns up the heat on New York politicians, this time flipping the tables of the fare evasion debate.
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.
FULL STORY: Police Apprehend Man For Repeatedly Failing To Pay For Subway
New York MTA Seeks New Funding Sources
The agency plans to negotiate new options for operational funding as farebox and toll revenue lingers far below pre-pandemic levels.
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.
Satirizing Mayors Who Campaign for President During a Flood
The Onion took some shots at presidential hopeful and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio after summer rain showers flooded streets and sent water cascading into the city's subway system.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
How Freeway Projects Impact Climate Resilience
In addition to displacement and public health impacts, highway expansions can also make communities less resilient to flooding and other climate-related disasters.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
