What are we doing?
Fare inspectors are enforcing fare payment on local buses throughout the city. If you don't pay your fare, you may be asked to exit the bus and may even be issued a summons.
Why are we doing this?
Fare evasion rates on buses have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. In 2020, approximately 21% of bus riders did not pay their fare; now, that number is nearly 50%, the highest rate of fare evasion of any mode of transportation operated by the MTA.
In 2022, we lost about $315 million due to fare evasion on buses. This is money we cannot spend on providing better service to our passengers.
Our efforts to combat fare and toll evasion continue on other MTA services. We have increased enforcement of fare payment on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, and have posted gate guards at subway stations to reduce evasion. We have also collaborated with other city and state agencies on joint toll enforcement campaigns, focusing on ghost plates and persistent toll violators.
Why paying rent is important
The MTA relies on fares to run its service. About a quarter of the MTA's budget comes from fares paid by our riders.
Paying your fare makes our bus system possible. The MTA uses your fare to hire more bus operators and mechanics, expand and modernize our fleet, and improve frequency and reliability. When you pay your fare, you're helping us better serve the more than two million New Yorkers who rely on buses every day.
Without your fare, we will have less money to spend, and service may deteriorate. Your fare helps keep us all moving forward.
How you can save money on rent
If you need help paying rent, there are a few things you can do.
With the Student OMNY card, students get four free rides per day — all day, every day, all year. If you have a Student OMNY card, always remember to tap for your ride. Your tap tells the MTA how many people ride from each stop and helps improve service. Learn more about the Student OMNY card.
Everyone can save money with our weekly fare cap. When you tap the same contactless card or device for every ride, your weekly fare will be capped at $34. You get all the benefits of a 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard without having to pay upfront. Learn more about fare capping.