[ensignavenger]

Kansas City Metro has stated that since going fare free they have seen an increase in "nusiance riders" (riders that don't follow the rules and get hostile with staff when given instructions). They are trying to find ways to combat this and have considered reinstituting fares, even just a small one. It will be interesting to continue following their experiment.

[coffeebeqn]

It coincided with opening the new light rail in the most popular nightlife areas. Hardly a laboratory setting

[friendzis]

Your point is nightlifers correlate with nuisance riders?

[rsynnott]

... I mean, yes, of course. Never been on a night bus after the bars close?

[rikthevik]

Riding the train in St. Louis after Strange Loop was an experience. Strangely, things were crazier on the way out to the bar than coming home...

[cogman10]

Does Kansas City have a police presence on the tram? I'd expect that to be more effective than a fare.

[tylerFowler]

Ohhh yeah, they definitely do. Usually just on weekends or for events but you have fully uniformed & armed officers riding the loops.

[jandrese]

Adding fares just means the nuisance riders will jump the fares. It won't stop them from riding.

[ensignavenger]

If that were the case, the theory is that the issues would not have increased after they went fare free. The increase may have been due to something else, though. Experimentation is probably the only way we will truly find out.

[bluGill]

Nuisance riders often have nothing better to do with their time and little money. They will find someplace else to go.