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.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. announced recently that his office would no longer prosecute the misdemeanor of fare evasion, reports Ryan Kailath.
Fare evasion was once at 11 percent in the 1990s, but "[t]oday, fare evasion is down to roughly 1.3 percent of riders." According to Kailath, "fare evasion is the most common criminal charge in Manhattan, with nearly 10,000 arrests a year."
Many fare evaders are repeat offenders, and the costs of prosecuting those crimes are more than the benefits, according to the article. "The outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are looking into decriminalizing fare evasion as well," adds Kailath.
FULL STORY: New York won't arrest you for stealing a subway ride anymore
Seattle to Reinstate Bus Fare Enforcement
After a COVID-era move to eliminate fare inspections on city buses, King County Metro is reinstating checks for fare evasion.
DC Metro Targets Bus Fare Evasion
The WMATA says roughly 70 percent of riders do not pay fares.
LA Metro Fare Enforcement Faces Backlash
The agency hopes cracking down on fare evasion will improve safety on the system, but riders aren’t so sure.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)