Brisbane deploys extra officers to tackle fare evasion
Authorities want to reduce a spike in fare infractions and violent incidents in public transport

Brisbane Bus © choosebrisbane.com.au

Annually, billions of euros are lost to fare evasion worldwide. It is a corrosive problem for public transport companies, posing a threat to safety and financial sustainability.

Authorities in Brisbane, Australia, are deploying extra public transport safety officers to patrol and monitor fare evasion.

The new senior officers will patrol on trains, ferries and buses, following a call in 2019 to increase safety after a spike in fare infractions and violent incidents on buses.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mr. Mark Bailey says “The majority of commuters do the right thing. Unfortunately, we have seen a growing problem with fare evasion on public transport, costing Queenslanders $25 million every year – so we’re taking action”.

“This announcement builds on two fare evasion roundtables, last year’s recruitment of additional SNOs and the great work we’ve achieved with industry and stakeholders to stamp out this type of anti-social behaviour” he ads.

The officers will have the power to inform the public about fare paying, issue warnings, or fines.

Fare evasion – a global issue

The behaviour of fare beaters is expensive, and unpopular with paying users. Most of the time, fare infractions are covered at the expense of local taxpayers.

Transit companies are paying increasing attention to fare evasion, even more now as they are working to recover financial losses during the pandemic.

While passenger numbers plummeted, fare infraction rates skyrocketed in the first months of the Covid-19 outbreak, as ticket inspections and front-door bus boarding were halted. On Amsterdam buses, fare infractions increased 4 times compared to pre-pandemic levels. On Stockholm commuter trains, fare evasion rates increased by 70% in June.

Breakthrough technologies using AI Video Analytics provide an alternative solution to tackle fare evasion, by detecting infractions through video streams in real-time. This technology allows for faster response times, and selective controls which are better suited in the context of the pandemic.