NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The MTA recorded twice the amount of subway fare evasion over the summer as it did during the first three months of 2020, but the agency said comparing the statistics was "problematic," as subway ridership has drastically declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between July and September, 13.6 percent of riders who entered the subway system evaded the fare, up from 6.2 percent between January and March, the New York Post reported, citing MTA data.
A memo the agency released along with the statistics, however, noted that fare evasion calculations are "problematic" in light of the pandemic, "due to the dramatic loss of ridership and the demographic of riders," the outlet reported.
"This challenge was exacerbated by the loss of employment with the service industry employees and police reform efforts," the memo added.
MTA Chairman Pat Foye last month said the agency would need a $12 billion federal bailout to recoup the losses it has recorded throughout the pandemic.
