Almost half of NYC bus riders don’t pay: Here’s why

This is the headline of an article published Aug. 26 in the New York Times: “Fare Evasion Surges on N.Y.C. Buses, Where 48% of Riders Fail to Pay.”

The article begins: “Every weekday in New York City, close to one million bus riders – roughly one out of every two passengers – board without paying.

“Fare evasion has led to startling financial losses for the M.T.A. (Metropolitan Transit Authority), the state agency that runs the city transit system. In 2022, the authority lost $315...