$3 Means Different Things for Different Riders

Who pays the steepest price?

When the fare inches up to $3, the real cost lands hardest on New Yorkers already stretched thin. Roughly 20% of residents say they struggle to pay for transit, and that burden is especially acute for low-income women, people of color, and immigrant households.

To soften the blow, New York's Fair Fares program offers half-price rides to low-income individuals. But even with expansions, eligibility remains narrow. Many working poor still don't qualify.

In neighborhoods with sparse transit options (parts of the Bronx, Eastern Brooklyn, and sections of Queens), a $3 ride can compound costs across multiple transfers or long commutes. Meanwhile, middle-income riders often absorb more of that increase in absolute dollars. The $0.10 hike may be a small fraction for some, but for many, it's a squeeze on daily survival.