MTA boss Janno Lieber blamed Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “free bus” promises for a spike in fare evasion that has sent paid ridership plummeting by a whopping 7.7% in June.

The MTA CEO didn’t mention Mamdani by name Wednesday as he railed against cheapskate riders emboldened by promises of free rides for everyone — calling the decline in paying straphangers “the reality of fare evasion.”

“There’s a trend that broke out,” Lieber told reporters after a meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. “With malice towards none I say all of the talk of free buses, it has an impact.”

Mamdani made free buses a central promise in his 2025 NYC mayoral election campaign. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com

“I’m not blaming anyone, I’m not trying to tell anyone to shut up,” Lieber said. “But we need to reestablish this.”

MTA documents showed paid monthly ridership down year-over-year for at least three months in 2026, with no data immediately available for February through April. In January, there were 1.21 million paid weekday rides, down from 8.1% in 2025, the transit agency’s documents showed.

Paid ridership plummeted 7.7% last month compared to June 2025, when there were 1.32 million paid bus riders, according to the records — while May saw an even sharper 10.4% decline compared to a year earlier.

Lieber suggested that free bus promises that the social media-focused socialist made during his campaign last year helped normalize the idea that riders did not need to pay. He sent a message to riders to pay up, implying fare jumpers weren’t just less fortunate folks who couldn’t afford the $3 ride.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber has repeatedly argued that making buses free would be too expensive and that the MTA, which is controlled by the state rather than the city, cannot absorb the cost of making all buses free. MediaPunch / BACKGRID

“For all the people who are on their way to office jobs, who are making a good income, who walk by the bus driver and don’t pay or get on the back and don’t pay, I say it’s time to be New Yorkers,” he said. “You’re just passing along the cost to another taxpayer. Somebody’s going to have to pay for that ride.

“Don’t pass along responsibility to somebody else who’s probably not as well off as you are,” he went on. “Take responsibility for this precious system. It’s a civic responsibility and we’re going to have to create a system which feels a little fairer with enforcement to make sure that everybody understands it.”

A spokesperson for the mayor said the drop in ridership proves that people want free buses. 

“Fare evasion has been a persistent problem for years, and the fact that some people are unable to afford bus fare highlights the affordability crisis in our city,” the spokesperson continued.

“This is exactly why Mayor Mamdani is pushing for a fare free system.”

MTA officials said a free bus pilot on five bus lines cost the agency more than $16.5 million in lost revenue. TOMAS E. GASTON

Mamdani made “fast and free buses” a central part of his campaign, turning it into a shorthand for his broader liberal agenda in New York City. 

Hizzoner, since taking office in January, has continued to tout the plan, citing the MTA’s own pilot program in 2023 that saw the agency test out five free routes as a success story.

His campaign listed reduced emissions among the benefits of fast, fare-free buses but the MTA’s own review found that the pilot mainly increased ridership among regular bus riders, instead of encouraging drivers to ditch their cars for public transit.

The agency also said the pilot cost more than $16.5 million in lost revenue.

Lieber has repeatedly argued that making buses free would be too expensive and that the MTA, which is controlled by the state rather than the city, cannot absorb the cost of free buses. Still, he has stopped short of criticizing Mamdani directly.

 “Without rancor and without blame, I do think that we have to now turn as a city to reestablish the principle that everybody shares in the responsibility for contributing to this system,” Lieber said.

Mamdani’s free bus idea would cost around $1.1 billion, according to the Independent Budget Office.

The MTA has projected deficits of $160 million in 2027, $243 million in 2028, and $306 million in 2029.

Lieber reiterated Wednesday the agency cannot afford to absorb the cost of free bus service for all New Yorkers, especially riders who could pay but choose not to.