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[-] zerog_bandit@lemmy.world 30 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Can anyone explain to me what the consequence for fare jumping is if they don't do this enforcement? Can an economist explain what the expected value lost from additional jumping is without enforcement?

When I lived in NYC, I began getting monthly passes through work. I did this for 3 years, paying $100/mo or $1,200 a year. I was getting paid pennies to make a big company bigger, so I stopped paying and started jumping. I jumped for around 2 years on my commute and for any other transit. I had a pay per ride card if I was on a date or if I needed the bus transfer. I figured out which cars to hide in to avoid paying for LIRR or the Metro North tickets (hint: at rush hour, no one can walk through the cars).

I was caught one time, I jumped the turnstiles into the 6 train at 68th/Hunter College. Right in front of 3 cops looking for jumpers (of course they were trying to ticket poor college kids). Got a ticket for $85. Still less than my monthly card would have cost. I was gonna argue it with some lame ass excuse but ended up paying it just so I wouldn't have to take a day off work. I still saved over $2300 by jumping.

So, not to say that this program is effective, but how many people were in a similar circumstance as me but decided not to jump because of deterrence policing?

[-] Madison420@lemmy.world -3 points 8 months ago

It should be free, most Metro systems turn a profit not a loss.

[-] healthetank@lemmy.ca 13 points 8 months ago

Not sure where you get that from. Most systems operate at a major loss and are propped up by grants/government funding. Typical targets for operating are ~1/3 of costs are covered by rider fares with the rest coming from grants or government funding.

Since the thread talks about NYC, I pulled this - MTA Budget. In it they state:

In a normal year, farebox revenue constitutes approximately 40 percent of the MTA’s annual budget, or $6.5 billion

[-] MNByChoice@midwest.social 5 points 8 months ago

Thank you for getting those numbers. I appreciate knowing that fairs are far larger than the $150 million spent in enforcement (3 had wondered.)

[-] Madison420@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

Do those numbers include advertising revenue? My city including ad revenue makes a small profit and they're thinking of doing the free fair thing.

[-] healthetank@lemmy.ca 1 points 8 months ago

Appendix A in the report does.

All told, their total operating revenue was 9.9bil, operating expenses were 13.1bil without including depreciation and pensions,etc which brought it to 16.1bil. that doesn't include any improvements (capital) works or their debt servicing.

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this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024
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