Commuters Daring MTA to Cut Service with Lax Ridership

Photo by klaxon on flickr

Whether you're selling candy bars for new basketball uniforms or could use some extra space for your xylophone and stand up bass, you'll be happy to know that there's been more room on the subways so far this year with ridership dramatically down. This past March saw approximately 2.5 million less riders take public transportation compared with March 2008. Of course good news for cramped straphangers isn't exactly music to the MTA's ears. The drop in ridership has given the agency a new budget shortfall to worry about with $7.1 million less in fares coming in than was expected in March alone. Toll collections are offering no relief—bridges and tunnels saw a million less drivers come across them than the year prior as well. How long until the MTA threatens more service cuts or starts charging those pesky two-wheeled "anti-car extremists" for using their crossings? The Post blames the lazy unemployed for no longer paying their fare to go to work and suggests heavier snowfall this winter didn't help either.

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By Billy Parker in News on May 18, 2009 3:56 PM

Comments [rss]

NewYorker1798

What's great about NYC is the variety of commuting options. When the subway fare gets too expensive, there are plenty of alternatives. I'd suggest checking out this Guide to Getting Around New York City for great tips: http://www.nytix.com/NewYorkCity/articles/gettingaround.html

whitecastlerock

FUCK THE MTA-ask the goddamn bloated unions for some fucking concessions. The stick your windfalls up your asses

y2julio

The bloated employees are the MTA managers, making $100,000+ to manage other managers that manage more managers that manage the supervisors that manage the blue collar folks. I love how people jump to attack the hard working men and women that get them safely to their destination.

Edith Z

... maybe the ridership is down because the unemployment rate is up! Find the NYC peeps some jobs...the MTA will come back.

nicemarmot

Seriously? My train seems more crowded than ever.

Of course, that may be because it's showing up half as often...

Steven

Heavy snowfall!!??

New York City had an average snowfall winter with 28 inches or so in Central Park. Even the Northern and Western suburbs had an average winter in snowfall.