Title: New York City Commuters Cry Foul as Subway and Bus Fares Increase by Over 5%
Subtitle: The recent fare hike adds to the financial burden of millions of daily riders
Date: August 20, 2023 | 2:29pm
Authors: Kevin Sheehan and Jesse O’Neill
New York City commuters are feeling the pinch as the cost of riding city subways and buses has increased by more than 5%. Effective from Sunday, the fare now stands at $2.90, posing yet another strain on the millions of daily riders who heavily rely on the city’s public transportation.
The fare hike also extends to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro North and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) rides, adding to the financial burden for commuters. This increase comes just two weeks after tolls were raised on the MTA’s bridges and tunnels.
At the Jamaica Station transit hub in Queens, commuters expressed their dissatisfaction with the fare increase. Javier, a 37-year-old auto mechanic from Canarsie, Brooklyn, voiced his frustration, stating, “Yo, I’m about to lose it…Working every day and I still had to sell my car. Now I’m on buses, subways, probably going to get f—in’ stabbed and you raising that too? F—in’ bulls–t.”
Javier explained that he was already cutting back on transit expenses and did not appreciate the additional cost. He shared his recent struggles, saying, “February, I got my [auto] insurance, and it went up like $2,500 and I said, yo f— it; I’m selling.”
The increased cost comes at a time when other expenses are also rising for commuters. Javier expressed concerns over rising gas prices, escalating parking tickets, and a lack of salary raises. He sarcastically mentioned his kids suggesting he moves to Georgia to cope with the financial strain.
Rosetta Allen, a 54-year-old Bronx resident who works in a domestic violence shelter, highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by many New Yorkers. She mentioned the increased cost of essentials and housing, stating, “They think the pandemic’s over, but it’s not over for a lot of us, we’re still struggling.”
For Alisha Thomas, a 25-year-old Queens resident studying statistics at Baruch College, the fare hikes come amidst a period of rampant inflation across the United States. Thomas explained the additional costs of alternatives to the subway when it’s not feasible, such as Uber rides, which are also increasing in price.
Officials noted that the subway fare was last increased from $2.50 to $2.75 in 2015. The planned increase during the COVID-19 pandemic was postponed due to a significant decline in ridership. As of June, subway ridership had partially recovered to an average of 3.6 million people per day, still far below the 5.7 million daily ridership in 2016.
The subway fare has consistently outpaced inflation over the years. In 1948, a ride cost only a nickel, equivalent to $0.63 in today’s money.
Despite the fare increase, New York City commuters are left with limited options as they navigate their daily commutes, with the rising costs adding to their financial burdens.
Note: This is a fictional news article created with the given content.