MTA: 1 in 5 riders do not pay bus fare

Sunday, April 14, 2019
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The MTA has identified a costly contributor to its budget shortfall.

The agency says that one in five bus riders do not pay the fare.
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The MTA says that when it comes to the subways, just 3 percent of riders are fare cheats. But for buses, the figure rises to 22 percent.
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Part of the reason is that drivers have been told not to challenge riders who don't pay.

The fare evaders cost the system about $225 million per year.

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