The MTA has installed spikes at a subway station to prevent fare evaders from skipping the turnstiles
These spikes are meant to make it painful for anyone trying to jump the turnstiles by using the handrails. But some folks think it won’t really stop people from finding other ways to sneak through.
Workers were busy installing these shiny spikes, and some commuters didn’t seem to care much about them. Veronica, a building manager from The Bronx, called them “silly and foolish.” She rides the subway daily and believes people will always find a way around them.
Kristen, a designer from Manhattan, also shared her thoughts. She felt the spikes looked unwelcoming and suggested the MTA could have done better with their design.
The MTA is losing about $500 million a year due to fare evasion, and they’ve been trying to recover that money for years. In 2023, they even installed expensive electronic gates, but those were easily bypassed with a simple trick.
Jose, a restaurant worker from the Bronx, hopes this new measure will actually help. He thinks it’s wild that it’s come to this point.
