(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Turnstile Jumpers
(New York, NY) — The MTA is defending its new subway fare gate pilot program that give riders wider turnstiles, but also has made it easier for some to cheat the system. The new high-tech entry gates are being tested out at four busy subway stations, where MTA leaders say riders are most likely to be travelling with suitcases and baby carriages. Videos have circulated online that show one rider paying to open the double door gates, with up to five people following behind, running through before the gates close again. It’s called piggybacking.
The MTA says it has seen the fare cheat videos, and is using them to work on building a better turnstile that cannot be beat. They say they have actually seen a 20% increase in paid ridership at one of the stations with the new turnstiles. A panel found the MTA lost five-hundred million dollars to to fare cheats in 2021 and 690-million in 2022.
