Public Transport Archives

April 11, 2025 Public Transport

Fare Evasion Reaches Record High in Switzerland: One Million Fare Evaders in 2024
Youth offenders, rising repeat violations, and a CHF 200 million loss challenge the future of public transport

Fare evasion on Swiss public transport has reached a record high, with over 1 million cases recorded in 2024—a nearly 10% increase from the previous year and part of a steady upward trend since 2019, when just over 411,000 cases were reported. This surge is partly attributed to a rise in ticket inspections,...

March 25, 2025 Public Transport

Poland’s Fare Evasion Crisis: 370 Million PLN (€81 Million) in Unpaid Fines

©Valentyn Chernetskyi / Unsplash

Poland is facing a significant problem with fare evasion in public transportation, with unpaid fines for riding without a ticket totaling nearly 370 million PLN (approximately €88 million). According to a recent report from the National Debt Register (KRD), over 293,000 individuals have failed to pay their penalties, accumulating an average debt of 1,300...

March 3, 2025 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Safety & Security, Ticketing

Seattle’s King County Metro Struggles with 34% Bus Fare Evasion
After Five Years, Metro Reintroduces Fare Inspections to Boost Compliance

Seattle’s King County Metro is resuming fare inspections on buses for the first time in nearly five years, starting March 31, to address fairness concerns as ridership recovers. Currently, an estimated 34% of passengers do not pay their fares. Metro emphasizes that this decision is mostly about fairness, ensuring all riders contribute to the...

February 20, 2025 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Safety & Security, Ticketing

Île-de-France Loses €700 Million Annually to Fare Evasion: New Measures Target 50% Reduction
Public Transport Cracks Down: Continuous Controls and 500 Agents to Combat Fare Evaders

Fare evasion in Paris and its suburbs costs the Île-de-France public transport network an estimated 700 million euros annually. To tackle this significant loss, Valérie Pécresse, President of Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), announced the launch of “continuous control” operations starting Monday, February 17, targeting bus, tramway, metro, and RER lines most affected by fare evasion....

February 18, 2025 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Ticketing

Auckland’s Fare Evasion Problem: A Growing Challenge for Public Transport
Fare Evasion on Key Auckland Bus Routes Raises Safety and Revenue Concerns

Fare evasion has become a significant issue on Auckland’s bus network, with recent estimates suggesting that nearly 3% of journeys—approximately one million instances—went unpaid over the past six months. While transport officers caught 12,700 fare evaders, only 4.8% received fines, and 2.4% were issued warnings, highlighting concerns about enforcement effectiveness. Key routes such as...

January 20, 2025 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Safety & Security

Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Loses $407,000 CAD to Fare Evasion in 2024
The City Hires Law Enforcement Officers to Deter Daily Fare Evasion Incidents

©Rodrigo Vitorino / Unsplash

Greater Sudbury’s public transit system has suffered a significant revenue loss of $407,000 CAD in 2024 due to fare evasion on its public transit system, particularly on buses. In response, the city council has approved the hiring of two part-time municipal law enforcement officers (MLEOs) to monitor buses. These officers will focus on deterring...

October 2, 2024 Fare Evasion, Public Transport

Fare Evasion in Antwerp: New Access Controls to Tackle a Growing Problem
Up to Half of Antwerp Tram Riders Don't Pay, Prompting Flemish Government Action

Fare evasion is a significant issue in Antwerp’s premetro system, with estimates suggesting that up to 50% of riders do not pay for their tram journeys. The premetro—a light rail network that operates like a metro in city centers, with trams running through underground tunnels before transitioning to surface tracks in outer areas—plays a...

September 18, 2024 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Safety & Security, Ticketing

Summer Balance for Savona Public Transport: Fare Evasion at 13%
TPL Linea reinforces ticket inspections and increases services in Savona and Albenga

TPL Linea, the public transport operator for Savona, reported a 13% fare evasion rate during the summer period from June 24 to August 25, 2024, compared to a lower rate recorded in 2023. Over 44,000 passengers were inspected across 3,504 trips, leading to 5,724 fines, an increase from 4,294 in 2023. The inspections were...

September 13, 2024 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Ticketing

MTA Faces Ongoing Challenges as 48% of NYC Bus Riders Skip Fare
With Nearly Half of Riders Not Paying, the MTA works on Comprehensive Solutions

The New York City bus system is dealing with an increase in fare evasion, with recent data revealing that 48% of bus riders fail to pay. In 2022 alone, this issue led to a $315 million loss for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Coupled with the cancellation of the congestion pricing program, the MTA...

August 26, 2024 Fare Evasion, Public Transport, Safety & Security, Ticketing

TransLink Boosts Fare Enforcement to Tackle $5M Loss in Revenue
Metro Vancouver’s transit authority intensifies efforts to curb fare evasion and enhance system funding

Midjourney image promped by AWAAIT

TransLink has announced the launch of a new fare enforcement initiative aimed at reducing fare evasion and improving the safety of Metro Vancouver’s transit system. The program will see a significant increase in fare enforcement patrols, with officers conducting high-visibility checks at transit hubs and on board vehicles. These efforts are part of TransLink’s...