Buses in New York will no longer open the middle and rear doors

The MTA has ordered its bus drivers not to automatically open the rear and center doors for customers to try to stop amateurs from riding "hare", reports New York Post.

“The rule takes effect immediately to prevent fare evasion. Agency drivers cannot use the tailgate toggle switch to automatically open the tailgate/center door unless necessary due to an emergency,” reads a May 6 memo sent to all MTA bus operators.

This will force would-be trespassers to enter through the front doors of the bus. They will run into the driver if they don't pay. Bus drivers will have to manually activate the rear and center doors if passengers want to exit through them. The rear and center doors on MTA's "Select Bus Service" express routes will continue to open automatically at all stops.

MTA CEO Janno Lieber vowed last month to tackle a surge in subway crime. According to the latest survey, almost 30 percent of city bus passengers do not pay fares. For comparison, at the end of 2019 there were just over 20 percent of non-payers.

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JP Patafio, vice president of the Brooklyn bus division of Transport Workers Local 100, called the memo stupid. According to him, drivers rarely open the back doors of buses themselves. He hopes passengers won't haggle for fares. Because in the past it has led to attacks on drivers.

“If someone enters through the back door, it's usually because a lot of people are getting off the bus,” he said. The job of a bus driver is already difficult. And being forced to pay fares leads to assaults and fights on the bus.”

The MTA's new directive runs counter to its long-term goal of all doors. OMNI tap-and-go card readers have been installed on all buses, but only work on some routes. Lieber believes it's too early to turn on OMNI readers on the back doors because most passengers still pay with MetroCards or cash.