Did Mamdani’s Free Bus Promise Lead More Riders to Skip the Fare?

NYC NOW | Aug 19

[Heads up: technical issues affected the audio quality on this episode. Thanks for bearing with us — the conversation is still worth it.]

 

The MTA says far fewer bus riders are paying the fare since Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office.  Fare evasion has been a problem in the city for years, but MTA Chair Janno Lieber says Mamdani's campaign promise to make the city's buses free isn't helping. Mamdani has a different assessment, and blames the issue on the affordability crisis. WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse explain what may be driving the issue and what comes next as the MTA plans to step up enforcement.

Photo: Stephen Nessen - WNYC/Gothamist

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