In another attempt to control fare evasion on the NYC subway, the MTA has fastened mini half-moons on turnstiles in stations downtown, specifically the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall/Chambers Street station where the 4, 5, 6 and J/Z trains run.
After installing not-so-spiky spikes on the Lexington Avenue Line, where the N, R, W, 4, 5 and 6 trains run, the semi-circle contraption atop of the turnstiles downtown intends to create a barrier that blocks straphangers from jumping over without swiping their MetroCard (or paying their OMNY fare).
Although fare evasion dropped 26% from June to December 2024, per the MTA, sources indicate that commuters are still testing the limits and bypassing the half-moons…and making jokes about them on social media. (See below.)
In her State of the State address in January 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that the subway system was a top priority, and indicated that changes would be underway in 2025 to help combat this issue.
“The MTA will be installing even more barriers in 100 additional stations,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during the speech. “Also, bright LED lighting in every station by the end of the year and the shameless toll evaders, fare evaders, will finally be stopped with modernized gates.”
Additionally, she stationed NYPD presence on all NYC subways overnight, following a series of dangerous incidents in late 2024.
As more information on fare evasion develops, we’ll keep you posted.