Subway/Metro/Tube fare barriers are not worth it

Interesting decision: not to install fare barriers at LA’s Metro Rail.

You just walk through, and hopefully you’ll obey the sign requiring a ticket.

It seems that just 5.5% of people do not obey the sign,  but the LA MTA seems to think that this is a problem. They estimate that they lose $5.5m per year from those fare dodgers, and a committee has unanimously agreed to spend $56m on installing faregates at all stations. Doesn’t say a lot for the folk on that committee, but this really poor decision still has time to be voted down by the MTA board.

It’s a poor decision for three reasons:

Firstly, assuming that all of the 5.5% of fare dodgers will pay fares under a faregate system is flawed. Many of them will simply choose not to travel by rail, and others will continue to fare dodge by jumping barriers – it is their “right” after all. Indeed, one commenter on the linked article states (without source) that turnstyles promote more fare evasion, rather than less. I guess once you jump the turnstyle you are less likely to be caught by inspectors.

Secondly, investing $56m to save $5.5m per year is just lousy economics. If you think not then lend me the $56m and I’ll give you $5.5m a year.

Thirdly, this is Los Angeles – a city that is dominated by the car, and one trying to promote train travel. Bringing in barriers will slow adoption, as the, err, barriers to change behaviour are literally much higher. You could wonder where the source of the idea to install barriers came from, and hope that it isn’t a cynical auto or road company.

So in LA at least it isn’t worth it for thse barriers to be there. I’m guessing that London and Paris would not have it so easy, especially with the huge tourist populations, and a more cynical crowd. But then in both places catching a bus sans billet is relatively simple.