The most recent survey by the MTA found that bus riders take about 6.2 million free trips a year, costing the cash-strapped agency some $14 million, according to the New York Post. On some bus lines, like the Bronx-Harlem Bx19, as many as a third of all riders do so for free. However, that still pales in comparison to the 18.5 million (or $31 million worth of) free trips subway riders took back in 2009, when the MTA last revealed the numbers. No wonder the State Senate passed a bill in January quintupling the maximum fine for fare evasion to $500.
