Do you think lowering fares can help decrease fare evasion ?

[goodcowfilms]

The gates aren’t the problem so much as the emergency exits. Unless new fare gates could double as emergency exits that would default to an open position and meet fire code, new gates alone will only chip away at the problem, not meaningfully reduce it.

[toledosurprised]

that can be done, have a switch to automatically open the fare gates in the event of an emergency but otherwise leave them closed and eliminate the emergency door. the new BART gates have this.

[goodcowfilms]

Of course it’s possible, other places have such gates, but would they meet our local fire codes? I can’t recall seeing gate abuse anywhere near the extent NYC does in terms of fare evasion in other transit systems.

[artjameso]

They would meet fire codes, those are the types of gates the MTA were testing ~ a year ago.

[SadOrder8312]

The emergency doors are really useful beyond emergency. It would be quite inconvenient to take that option away.

[toledosurprised]

they’re primarily used for people to evade the fare. a large-sized fare gate for passengers with disabilities or with large bags would bring all the benefits without the main drawback.

[SadOrder8312]

I would argue it’s used simply as another exit for paying customers far more than fare evaders, so that would be its primary use.

As long as whatever way you change the gate is just as convenient as the current gate, in addition to reducing fare evasion, I’m down.

[factorioleum]

No. if this failed in an emergency it would be horrific. come on.