48% of NYC riders do not pay the bus fare

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Moral vs. Practical Views on Fare Evasion

  • Some argue people should pay “because it’s the right thing,” and society can’t rely on a cop behind every rider; non-payment erodes the commons.
  • Others see mass evasion as a predictable result of weak enforcement and blame authorities more than individuals.
  • Several note that widespread evasion makes honest riders feel like “suckers” and turns fares into a “tax on honesty.”

Enforcement, Safety, and Law-and-Order

  • Many call for more aggressive enforcement on buses and subways, including police presence to deter fare evasion and other misconduct.
  • Others counter that enforcement is costly, often harsher on those without money, and can end up costing more than the lost fares.
  • Bus drivers often do not enforce fares due to safety concerns; confrontations have led to attacks.
  • Broader worries about rising “quality-of-life” crime and decreased willingness to prosecute minor offenses are raised; actual trend data is disputed.

Funding Model: Free Transit vs. User Fees

  • One side: treat transit like fire departments, sidewalks, and (often) roads—fund it from taxes, possibly free at the point of use; fare collection is seen as inefficient and regressive.
  • Opposing view: even rich welfare states (e.g., Sweden/Denmark) still charge fares; without payment and orderliness, public support collapses.
  • Some note MTA’s heavy debt and extreme construction costs; skepticism that more money or higher fares will be used efficiently.

Equity, Poverty, and Behavior

  • Disagreement over whether nearly half of bus riders genuinely cannot afford fare.
  • Some describe even $60/month as prohibitive for the poorest; others point to discounted programs and argue many evaders are simply anti-social.
  • Debate over whether disorder is mainly economic (high housing costs, inequality) or cultural (individualism, entitlement).

System Design and Alternatives

  • Practical issues: back-door boarding, proof-of-payment buses, and tap-to-pay make evasion easy.
  • Comparisons to Germany’s proof-of-payment with random inspectors, and to systems that introduced gates after high evasion.
  • Proposals range from free transit funded like roads, to time-of-use pricing, to controversial ideas of forced work/community service or prison labor for repeat offenders.