Every
transit network has its fare beaters, the riders who view payment as
either optional or prohibitively expensive. Many cities, most notably
New York, view turnstile-jumpers as a top policing priority, reasoning
that scofflaws might graduate to more serious crimes if left alone.
But in Stockholm, the offenders seem to have defeated the system.
For over a decade, Mr. Tengblad has belonged to a group known as Planka.nu (rough translation: “free-ride.now”),
an organization with only two prerequisites for admission: Members must
pay a monthly fee of about $15 and, as part of a continuous
demonstration against the fare, promise to evade payment every time they
ride. If travelers keep their side of the agreement, the group will
cover any of the roughly $180 fines that might result. (An unlimited
ride pass for 30 days costs about $120.)
The
group’s efficiency in evasion has created an enviable business model.
Last year, the group took in more than twice as much money — more than
$7,500 per month — as it paid out in fines, organizers said. Fare Dodging Is an Organized Rebellion in Stockholm, and It’s Winning - NYTimes.com
1 comment:
This would be even easier to accomplish in Portland. Just sayin' . . . (not that I would advocate for something like that . . .)
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