The M60 on 125th street is horrible for this.

The current bus layout doesn't help any. I can never understand why people won't go up those two steps to the back area. They jam up the front and the rear exit and refuse to move. So drivers have told paying passengers to enter through the rear doors, and, once sanctioned, people just keep doing it whenever faced with a similar situation.

Time to put in some "Iron Maiden" turnstiles on both doors of the buses?

People shouldn't try to beat the system, but I wonder if that number of free trips is significant, given the size of the system.

For example, last year, I once got on a bus with no money unintionally -- I'd misplaced my wallet. While searching for it and looking freaked out, the driver just waved me through. Big whuup. If it's some random stuff like that, I don't think it's so bad.

And no, I didn't mail the money to the MTA or pay twice later -- I've left the subway enough times due to service errors that at best we're even...

@ Public Relations:

Whether or not they have transfers or unlimited ride cards, they still have to dip their card to get on. Show a little respect for the process. It's not that difficult.

Some of those riders have metro cards and are transferring to the train.

We see that everyday during rush hour. NO money is lost - they take the bus to the train and pay there

Also what about the people who have unlimited metro cards - that can not get on in the crowded front and have to get on in the back

Things are not always as they seem

It's like a stampede of fare-beaters through the back doors of the B61 when it stops at Jay Street. And it ain't old people, either...

I have always thought the Bronx had the most brazen bus fare beaters.

Perhaps the TA should get some undercover police officers to ride the bus at random to catch fare beaters. Also raising the fine would help discourage things.

I was just in St. Louis where the MetroLink light rail system uses a validation system. I'd never seen anything like it before and I was surprised that there was no turnstyle or ticket taker. They do not do a good job of indicating how the system works and it seemed odd to me that all that stands between a rider and a free ride is the seemingly slight possibility that a transit worker or police officer may ask to see a ticket.

I don't take the bus often, but I haven't seen any fare dodgers when I do. I did, however, recently get on a bus with an empty MetroCard (forgot my valid card) and the driver simply shrugged and waved me on.

Funniest transit experience related to fares: I got busted in Prague about eleven years ago for riding the subway without a ticket (couldn't figure out the machines, which had only Czech dialog). My friends and I got nabbed by a plain clothes officer who fined us on the spot. The fine was equal to about $3 US dollars, which at the time was about 8 half-liter beers in a neighborhood bar in Prague.

@nicemarmot

Your story made me smile. Thank you. I love it when the thugs and the bad guys lose. I have to think that some societal pressure to be human might do some good. We should hold our neighbors accountable for bad behavior.

My favorite bus story is the time I was getting off the M23 and a kid tried to shove me backwards in his haste to sneak on via the back door. I knocked him on his ass and the whole bus laughed and pointed. It was awesome. So my proposal is: don't make it harder to get on without paying- just make it "open season" on those who don't pay. Ass-whuppings, nasty comments and general douchebaggery all permitted.

Hey MTA, people (like me) get in through the back because the front is overcrowded. Add more buses! Buses in this city are total shit.

@SikBug

"DC has that nice system setup"

Especially, when their system is easily hacked.

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/07/washington_dc_m.html

@jackdonaghy

The fine is $100, not $1,000.

I see this all the time around my way. You'd be surprised how some people walk through the front of the bus without even thinking about paying the bus driver.

DC has that nice system setup where you just tap your card to pay as well as being able to take change and bills.

#14, if a person can't afford to pay $2 for a bus ride, how is he/she going to pay the $1,000 fine?

BTW, I've paid $2 cash before and the machine gave me the white transfer MTA card/ticket. Maybe some buses already have the technology.

Another perfect use for public caning.

Sometimes when I board the bus the fare box is broken and the driver just lets the passengers on board without paying.

I would of given you the dime or perhaps have a leave a penny take a penny cup near the farebox.

now I know why the driver don't holler Pay Your Fare! the way the token clerks used to do it behind their Air conditioned box.

you think the .10 came out of his pocket if his farebox tally was short?

@EricRoberts

Old news Mr. Roberts. We're already there.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/06/30/2008-06-30_bronx_bus_fuss_over_new_system.html