Because in the age of the coronavirus — it’s impossible to pay the fare without getting close to the driver. According to the MTA, starting Monday there will be no fares on local buses — and patrons will be allowed to enter through the back.
The New York Daily News was first to report the news. People similarly were able to ride for free shortly after 9/11. People will still be asked to pay their ride on select buses, but not for local buses (one has a ticket stand, one doesn’t.)
The announcement (formal as of Friday) came just 1 day after the agency confirmed that at least 23 of its officials had the novel Coronavirus.
Passengers boarding NYC Transit’s M57 bus(JUAN MONINO www.juanmonino.com/Getty Images)