metro fare evasion is absolutely ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should arrest these people as this is the gateway into serious crime

True. Before you know it, they’ll be working for Wells Fargo, or insider trading, or making up resumes as they embark upon political careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone school age wouldn't be paying the fare anyway, though — seems like the barrier to moving from swiping your Kids Ride Free farecard to just jumping the turnstile isn't that high. The system loses out on the revenue that the city would pay for the free rides, but... it's sort of hard for me to get that upset that kids who wouldn't be paying to ride the system anyway are not swiping in or out.

(Though I will say a guy jumping the turnstile the other day nearly landed on me as I was swiping into Metro on the way home from work a few weeks ago, which was annoying, though not as annoying as it would have been if he actually hit me.)

Kids Ride Free doesn't apply to kids outside DC. My kids have Youth Cruiser farecards and still have to pay to ride.

[Anonymous]

At least the lack of enforcement is universal. I'm white and jump the turnstile after happy hour or nights out without any hassle. I even eat pizza on the ride back and share with some of the other passengers if they ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone school age wouldn't be paying the fare anyway, though — seems like the barrier to moving from swiping your Kids Ride Free farecard to just jumping the turnstile isn't that high. The system loses out on the revenue that the city would pay for the free rides, but... it's sort of hard for me to get that upset that kids who wouldn't be paying to ride the system anyway are not swiping in or out.

(Though I will say a guy jumping the turnstile the other day nearly landed on me as I was swiping into Metro on the way home from work a few weeks ago, which was annoying, though not as annoying as it would have been if he actually hit me.)

It's not kids. Everyone I saw today walking over the gates were adults well into their 30s, who just dgaf about anything. There is a pervasive, lawless attitude prevalent in DC mixed with a mind warping entitlement mentality.

I dunno why I even obey the law and pay for fare when lawbreaking is legalized, as much as that is an oxymoron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I just don't find this as upsetting as most of the people on this thread. The system needs the revenue, but other than that, I'm not appalled to be witnessing lawbreaking, and if you think a free subway ride is "animalistic instincts," to quote OP, I hope you never see any real serious crimes being committed. (I hope that anyway, obviously, but you know what I mean.)

I pay my fare and go on with my day, because whatever other people are doing on Metro isn't really my responsibility.

It is behaving like animals. It is tolerance of stealing an allowing people to get away with F y'all, I got what I need and I ain't paying for it attitude. It's a vile culture the DMV is creating. Why stop there? Just take books out from the library without cards and take them to your house and never return them while you are at it. Who needs a civilized society with any kinds of rules and law and order? Let's just devolve into living so that our primal needs are met everyday. Who cares how you meet them. No rules for anyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I just don't find this as upsetting as most of the people on this thread. The system needs the revenue, but other than that, I'm not appalled to be witnessing lawbreaking, and if you think a free subway ride is "animalistic instincts," to quote OP, I hope you never see any real serious crimes being committed. (I hope that anyway, obviously, but you know what I mean.)

I pay my fare and go on with my day, because whatever other people are doing on Metro isn't really my responsibility.

It is behaving like animals. It is tolerance of stealing an allowing people to get away with F y'all, I got what I need and I ain't paying for it attitude. It's a vile culture the DMV is creating. Why stop there? Just take books out from the library without cards and take them to your house and never return them while you are at it. Who needs a civilized society with any kinds of rules and law and order? Let's just devolve into living so that our primal needs are met everyday. Who cares how you meet them. No rules for anyone!

NP here and I agree with you that this is a shame. I don’t even care about the unfairness of it (i.e. they’re not paying so why should I?) because I’m happy to pay my fair share. But I worry that this type of petty crime can embolden even more crime because people will realize that nobody is actually policing anything. It really degrades the system and then normal, paying passengers will stop riding as often. I used to love metro about 10-15 years ago, but I rarely ride it anymore even though it’s 2 blocks away from my home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone school age wouldn't be paying the fare anyway, though — seems like the barrier to moving from swiping your Kids Ride Free farecard to just jumping the turnstile isn't that high. The system loses out on the revenue that the city would pay for the free rides, but... it's sort of hard for me to get that upset that kids who wouldn't be paying to ride the system anyway are not swiping in or out.

(Though I will say a guy jumping the turnstile the other day nearly landed on me as I was swiping into Metro on the way home from work a few weeks ago, which was annoying, though not as annoying as it would have been if he actually hit me.)

It's not kids. Everyone I saw today walking over the gates were adults well into their 30s, who just dgaf about anything. There is a pervasive, lawless attitude prevalent in DC mixed with a mind warping entitlement mentality.

I dunno why I even obey the law and pay for fare when lawbreaking is legalized, as much as that is an oxymoron.

I bet you actually pay your DC parking and traffic tickets too. Guess what, no one is paying those either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I just don't find this as upsetting as most of the people on this thread. The system needs the revenue, but other than that, I'm not appalled to be witnessing lawbreaking, and if you think a free subway ride is "animalistic instincts," to quote OP, I hope you never see any real serious crimes being committed. (I hope that anyway, obviously, but you know what I mean.)

I pay my fare and go on with my day, because whatever other people are doing on Metro isn't really my responsibility.

It is behaving like animals. It is tolerance of stealing an allowing people to get away with F y'all, I got what I need and I ain't paying for it attitude. It's a vile culture the DMV is creating. Why stop there? Just take books out from the library without cards and take them to your house and never return them while you are at it. Who needs a civilized society with any kinds of rules and law and order? Let's just devolve into living so that our primal needs are met everyday. Who cares how you meet them. No rules for anyone!

Yep. I am a third generation Washingtonian, and I never thought I would want to leave, but now, I can’t wait to get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should arrest these people as this is the gateway into serious crime

That would be unfair to those who obviously can't afford to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should arrest these people as this is the gateway into serious crime

That would be unfair to those who obviously can't afford to pay.

I hope you are being sarcastic. It’s hard to tell.

If you can’t afford something, you don’t do it. You find another way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I just don't find this as upsetting as most of the people on this thread. The system needs the revenue, but other than that, I'm not appalled to be witnessing lawbreaking, and if you think a free subway ride is "animalistic instincts," to quote OP, I hope you never see any real serious crimes being committed. (I hope that anyway, obviously, but you know what I mean.)

I pay my fare and go on with my day, because whatever other people are doing on Metro isn't really my responsibility.

I’m with you. I don’t really care what other people do. I prefer the ones who jump the gates rather than forcing them though, because I hate having to work around the broken gates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should arrest these people as this is the gateway into serious crime

That would be unfair to those who obviously can't afford to pay.

I hope you are being sarcastic. It’s hard to tell.

If you can’t afford something, you don’t do it. You find another way.

Or the city could start a program to give out free card to people who need them if that is desired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is zero enforcement of anything on metro. People are literally smoking weed in the train cars. Fare jumpers everyday. Metro does not care. Station managers are probably not paid enough to get into these confrontations and transit police are never there when this stuff happens. I’m glad I only commute once a week. That’s plenty of crazy for me. Societal norms have completely eroded.

So much weed at the bus stops on Wisconsin Avenue. Yesterday was Moms smoking and blowing weed in their kids' faces by Cathedral Commons. Glad we provide so much social support in DC so people can afford their weed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I just don't find this as upsetting as most of the people on this thread. The system needs the revenue, but other than that, I'm not appalled to be witnessing lawbreaking, and if you think a free subway ride is "animalistic instincts," to quote OP, I hope you never see any real serious crimes being committed. (I hope that anyway, obviously, but you know what I mean.)

I pay my fare and go on with my day, because whatever other people are doing on Metro isn't really my responsibility.

I’m with you. I don’t really care what other people do. I prefer the ones who jump the gates rather than forcing them though, because I hate having to work around the broken gates.

You say this like it's inconsequential?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today I took the metro from Union and got off at TP. At the TP station, I literally saw at least 3 people give zero craps and step over the gates like it was nothing. They didn't even try to hide it, didn't even, run away, and just casually strolled along with their day like it was nothing. ....

Well it is considered nothing now. Saw at least 5 on 1 trip this past week. That is the least of my metro problems- finale was getting on a down escaltor from a train platform. Guy about 20 steps ahead started walking up the down escalator talking to me- turned and got to bottom then barring my get off. 2nd piece of weirdness on that trip - guy grabbed womans arm on another platform...

More concerned with the super off types like those who I've seen enter or exit by the station workers pressing gate open.