The Metropolitan Avenue/Lorimer Street subway station in Williamsburg has become a significant hotspot for fare evasion, as commuters and transit authorities grapple with the issue of illegal rides throughout New York City.
During a recent visit on July 21, a reporter for amNewYork witnessed four individuals hopping the turnstiles within a mere 30 minutes—an alarming indication of the widespread nature of fare evasion in the area.
The situation escalated when two fare evaders decided to jump over the turnstile at the entrance on Union Street and Metropolitan Avenue, a location where a station agent was present.
One of the men jumped the turnstile with ease and, seemingly unfazed by the presence of an agent, offered to assist other commuters by opening the emergency door, although they declined his help.
Roz Haddock, a local resident who frequently uses the station, expressed her disgust with the fare evasion trends, noting that she could count on one hand the number of people seen paying for their rides.
“This happens all the time. It’s citywide,” said the station agent, highlighting a troubling reality that many commuters are aware of but few seem to address.
The Metropolitan Avenue/Lorimer Street station falls under the jurisdiction of NYPD Transit District 30 for the G line and Transit District 33 for the L line.
In the first quarter of 2025, Transit District 30 reported 185 fare evasion arrests and issued 1,846 summonses.
In contrast, Transit District 33 saw significantly higher numbers with 579 arrests and 2,677 summonses during the same period, though the NYPD did not provide station-by-station statistics.
This year, during visits to prominent stations like 42nd Street-Grand Central Terminal and Woodside’s 61st Street station, reporters observed numerous riders employing different methods to avoid the $2.90 fare.
These techniques included crawling under turnstiles, jumping over them, squeezing through the gates two at a time, and using emergency exits.
The ongoing fare evasion crisis has significant financial implications for the MTA, costing the agency an estimated $800 million annually.
In response to the rising issue, the MTA has implemented various strategies to combat fare evasion, including deploying additional police presence throughout the subway system.
One successful initiative has been the introduction of unarmed gate guards at selected stations, resulting in a notable 36% decrease in fare evasion incidents at those locations.
Furthermore, the MTA has redesigned some turnstiles with sleeves and barriers to deter individuals from jumping them, leading to a remarkable 60% reduction in this behavior at revamped stations.
Enforcement efforts have also intensified, with the NYPD making over 6,500 arrests due to fare evasion in the year up to May—an 85% increase compared to the same time frame in 2024.
Interestingly, it was on the same day that amNewYork visited the Lorimer Street station that the MTA celebrated a record-breaking summer week, with four million subway riders utilizing the trains for three consecutive days between July 15 and 17.
The struggle against fare evasion clearly remains a pressing challenge for transit authorities, as they continue to implement measures to maintain fare integrity and support the revenue needed for city-wide transit services.
image source from：amny
