Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this week's On The Way, "All Things Considered" host Sean Carlson, WNYC transit reporter Ramsey Khalifeh and WNYC politics reporter Liz Kim discuss the state of one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's signature campaign pledges: Free buses.
Despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign pledge to make them free for everyone, rides still cost $3. But don’t tell that to a growing number of New Yorkers who are evading the fare.
During Mamdani’s first six months in office, the fares the MTA collected from bus riders fell by $31 million compared to the first half of 2025. And — without naming names — MTA Chair Janno Lieber suggested Mamdani’s campaign pledge wasn’t helping.
For more On The Way, and to ask us your own burning questions about the NYC transit system, subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
bit.ly/4evpHmz
Read past editions of On The Way at bit.ly/3JT2qjJ
Video produced by Daniel Shapiro
In this week's On The Way, "All Things Considered" host Sean Carlson, WNYC transit reporter Ramsey Khalifeh and WNYC politics reporter Liz Kim discuss the state of one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's signature campaign pledges: Free buses.
Despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign pledge to make them free for everyone, rides still cost $3. But don’t tell that to a growing number of New Yorkers who are evading the fare.
During Mamdani’s first six months in office, the fares the MTA collected from bus riders fell by $31 million compared to the first half of 2025. And — without naming names — MTA Chair Janno Lieber suggested Mamdani’s campaign pledge wasn’t helping.
For more On The Way, and to ask us your own burning questions about the NYC transit system, subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
bit.ly/4evpHmz
Read past editions of On The Way at bit.ly/3JT2qjJ
Video produced by Daniel Shapiro
