MTA: 1 in 10 Muni riders are freeloaders

Old cable car transferIn what will surprise nobody at all, the MTA has found in a recent study that “nearly 10 percent” of Muni riders don’t pay. With a 10% fare evasion rate, the potential annual revenue from stricter enforcement could be as much as $17 million per year – not enough to do away with the annual deficit, but enough to prevent more service cuts. (We are strong supporters of stricter fare enforcement, along with extending parking meter hours, which will also help prevent service cuts.) SFist is also discussing this today.

Update: Supervisor Dufty has scheduled a hearing on fare evasion as well as crime on Muni.

Update 10/22: The Examiner has an editorial on the subject.