Editor's Note
Editor’s Note: No MTA fare hike provides welcome relief to New Yorkers
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to not raise fares for six months is especially helpful during these difficult economic times.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to not raise fares at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was welcome news for New York City. pio3/Shutterstock
My father took me to ride the subways when I was a kid growing up in New York City, giving me an early appreciation for how practical and useful this flawed, aging system has been throughout most of my life. My mother, on the other hand, was more of a bus rider, teaching me how with a free transfer I could get two rides out of one fare.
When Citi Bike was introduced in 2013, New Yorkers had an inexpensive way to combine a bicycle rental network with public transportation to get literally anywhere in the city. It sure provided an alternative to more expensive cab rides and Ubers.
Many New Yorkers have come to depend on these options to survive the rising costs of living in the city. That’s why Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision not to raise fares at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for at least six months was welcome news during these difficult economic times, especially for lower-income residents.
The MTA isn’t promising it can hold the line on fares when it balances its budget through 2025 next year. And many New Yorkers will fight a fare increase, especially those struggling to make ends meet. Eventually, a fare hike will come. Whatever that increase is, let’s hope the price of public transportation stays within a reasonable range so that it still can be the most practical and affordable way to get around town – for the greatest number of people.