Saint Petersburg to Triple Fines in Response to Surge in Fare Evasion
City responds to rising violations with tougher penalties to deter offenders

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Fare evasion in St. Petersburg, Russia, has surged in recent years. Official statistics reveal a sharp rise in violations: from 3,800 recorded cases in 2021–2022 to 11,120 in 2023, and further up to 14,731 in 2024.  To address the growing problem, a new bill submitted to the city’s Legislative Assembly proposes raising fines for...

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

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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...

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

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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....

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

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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...

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

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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...

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

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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...

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

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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...

Tackling Fare Evasion in Bergamo: A Growing Challenge for ATB and TEB
Economic Impact, Enforcement Efforts, and a Creative Awareness Campaign

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Fare evasion in public transport has become an increasing concern for ATB (Azienda Trasporti Bergamo) and TEB (Tramvie Elettriche Bergamasche) in Bergamo. The fare evasion rate reached 7.5% in 2023, up from 6.3% in 2022. This rising trend has continued until 2024, highlighting the need for urgent and effective measures. Fare evasion causes significant...

Turin’s Comprehensive Checks Reveal High Rate of Fare Evasion on Public Transport
A Third of Passengers on Turin’s Buses and Trams Caught Without Tickets

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The San Carlo Carabinieri and GTT conducted comprehensive fare evasion checks on Turin’s public transportation system from Friday, May 31, to Sunday, June 2, 2024. The inspections targeted 4, 11, 55, and 58 bus and tram lines in the City Centre District, affecting 23 vehicles and about 750 passengers.  The operation revealed that 210...

LA Metro Introduces Tap Out System to Combat Fare Evasion
Pilot Program at North Hollywood Station Aims to Reduce Fare Evasion and Enhance Security Measures

In order to reduce fare evasion, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has launched a new pilot program at the North Hollywood B Line stop. Starting last week, Metro riders must tap their transit cards both when entering and exiting the station. This new requirement, a significant departure from the current system...