MTA installs new metal shields on turnstiles at NYC subway station
The MTA slapped new metal shields atop a row of turnstiles at a Manhattan subway station in their latest effort to curb fare evasion — but at least one law-breaking rider Wednesday night hopped right over the barrier with ease.
The latest feeble defense from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority against evaders of the $2.90 fare debuted at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall/Chambers Street subway station this week, just one month after the transit agency modified turnstiles at a different station for the same purpose.
And similar to the reaction from straphangers last month, commuters on Wednesday at the lower Manhattan station weren’t impressed with the MTA’s newest measure aimed at combating subway scofflaws.
“If you can jump 36 inches off the ground, I think you can probably jump 38 inches off the ground,” one commuter said.
“I don’t feel like it’s that much of a difference,” added Violeta S., who did not want to give her full last name. “It’s just a little bit weird.”
The crescent metal flaps are roughly four inches at their highest point from the top of the turnstile and were installed at one of the entrances across from the Brooklyn Bridge.
“I do understand why they did it that way because it’s probably inexpensive for them,” Violeta admitted before noting, “It’s just adding a small piece instead of changing the entire design.”
It appears the slight turnstile tweak might not do the trick.
The Post witnessed a young man easily clear the additional hurdle as he raced to catch his train while a young woman crawled under the bar to reach the subway platform Wednesday night.
A security guard at the station was also skeptical after he witnessed a fare beater earlier in the day.
“I saw one guy hop right over it and almost fall,” the guard said. “It was actually funny to watch.”
The head of New York City Transit, Demetrius Crichlow, told The City, which first reported the development, it’s a “constant battle” to get patrons to pay to use the subway.
“They would pay it for anything else, but they just do not want to pay it for the fare,” he said.
It’s unclear how much it cost to install the additional barriers and if they are placed at other stations across the city.
The MTA did not return a request for comment Wednesday night.
Another rider, 48, told The Post the funds toward the feature is “a waste of money.”
Irene, 37, also agreed, saying “it’s not going to stop anybody.”
“You can just put your hands on the sides and pick yourself up and jump over it,” she said. “Maybe if they put some spikes on top of it.”
The MTA installed spikes along turnstiles last month at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue, but riders still were able to circumvent the jagged edges.
The MTA has also tested subway gates worth $700,000 to stop fare beating, but a simple hack from TikTok showed how easy it was to still waltz pass them without swiping.
The MTA loses roughly $500 million annually in fare evasion, but officials pointed to progress in its battle when Gov. Kathy Hochul said last month that subway fare beating was down 26% from June through December of last year.
Bus fare evasion decreased about 9% during that same time period.
“Our strategy has been to publicize the seriousness of the problem, to put in place stronger physical barriers, and to make sure there’s plenty of enforcement,” MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement at the time.
