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Fare inspectors

Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Sat Oct 3 14:58:47 2026

If as is common in many transit systems, farebox recovery is less than 20& of the cost per ride, we should get rid of the fare, the equipment, the way overpriced electronic fare card vendors, etc. Or if someone objects, then put tollbooths on every main street.
Before anyone whines about security, the transit service is not a social safety net. If we know fare inspectors will need police backup, just send out more officers, don't waste funding on inspectors.

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(1651002)

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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by AlM on Sun Oct 4 08:59:29 2026, in response to Fare inspectors, posted by Jackson Park B Train on Sat Oct 3 14:58:47 2026.

farebox recovery is less than 20& of the cost per ride

I certainly haven't ever seen such a claim about NYC.

Also, if the fare were zero, ridership would probably double, which would require an extraordinary influx of additional funding.



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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Sun Oct 4 09:40:59 2026, in response to Re: Fare inspectors, posted by AlM on Sun Oct 4 08:59:29 2026.

Even the most boisterous advocates of public transit usually insist on some sort of a fare, probably in part for the reason you give.

But the question does arise -- if fare gates do not deter evasion, should we just take all the barriers down and have systemwide POP like in Germany? Or maybe just keep the cheap stuff that is at least technically a barrier and supplement that with inspections.

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(1651005)

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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by Easy on Sun Oct 4 11:56:51 2026, in response to Re: Fare inspectors, posted by AlM on Sun Oct 4 08:59:29 2026.

Why would ridership double? Which modes would people be switching from? The only thing cheaper is walking.

Counterintuitively I think that ridership in LA would fall if fares were free. People would literally start living in trains and stations. And I know this because that's exactly what happened when ridership was made free in 2020 and 2021.

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(1651007)

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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by Stephen Bauman on Sun Oct 4 12:49:27 2026, in response to Re: Fare inspectors, posted by AlM on Sun Oct 4 08:59:29 2026.

I certainly haven't ever seen such a claim about NYC.

According to the 2024 NTD tables for operating expenses and fare revenue for bus operation for combined NYCT and MTA Bus operations.

total operating cost: $4,886,628,308
total fare revenue: $814,126,685
Fare Recovery Rate: 16.7%

For NYCT Heavy Rail Operation:

total operating cost: $6,500,549,691
total fare revenue: $2,891,420,498
Fare Recovery Rate: 44.48%

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(1651012)

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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by AlM on Sun Oct 4 17:16:03 2026, in response to Re: Fare inspectors, posted by Easy on Sun Oct 4 11:56:51 2026.

Which modes would people be switching from?

They would take more trips.



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(1651016)

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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Sun Oct 4 22:40:14 2026, in response to Re: Fare inspectors, posted by AlM on Sun Oct 4 17:16:03 2026.

I can support that by stating anecdotally that I would be making a lot of 4-stop or 5-stop bus trips, especially if I wasn't fond of the weather, if the fare was free. I'd probably still walk a bunch of those same trips too, but if I'm going 4 stops, or say a half-mile, and I see either visually or from the app that the bus is coming, I'd be inclined to use it if I knew it was free -- probably even in good walking weather.

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(1651018)

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Re: Fare inspectors

Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Mon Oct 5 02:12:34 2026, in response to Re: Fare inspectors, posted by New Flyer #857 on Sun Oct 4 22:40:14 2026.

Once I turned 65--which meant an unlimited ride bus pass was cheao, I displayed that behavior.

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