A quirky group of unique athletes recently staged an event called the “Fare Evasion Olympics,” jumping through the MTA’s newly designed subway turnstiles, apparently to highlight their inadequacy.
Among the participants were a pole dancer, a rock climber, and a parkour enthusiast, who showcased their skills by leaping over a six-foot door at the Broadway-Lafayette Street Station in Manhattan. The transit authority aims to outsmart fare evaders at this very station.
“It’s definitely still doable. Just not very effective and quite expensive,” remarked Danny Fisher, who organized the event late Thursday and openly identifies as a fare dodger.
He recalled seeing a video of a young girl injured by the turnstiles, describing it as “insane.” This incident recently sent a child to the hospital, highlighting concerns about safety.
“Honestly, I don’t care about effectiveness. I just want to save on fares. This just shows that it’s a waste of resources and can harm people,” he added.
Amusing footage captured one participant dressed in a bunny suit, carrying an Olympic-style torch, as they entered the subway station to leap over the turnstiles.
The event aimed to mock the new, yet “inefficient” turnstile design. Fisher has enlisted various performers for an upcoming show titled “The Danny Fisher Show,” intending to critique life in New York City while celebrating it.
Privacy concerns led contestants to use aliases. One involved in freerunning called himself Peter Parkour and found the event “absolutely ridiculous.” He impressed the audience with his daring jumps and acrobatics on the tap-to-pay devices, while another participant, Tato, showcased her pole dancing skills in high heels.
It was ‘Josh’ who truly wowed the crowd with his rock climbing prowess. After injuring his hand with chalk, he skillfully maneuvered down an overhead scanner as if it were a climbing hold. The judges joked that the MTA raised the fare just for this contest, awarding him $3—equivalent to a subway ticket—for his efforts.
“I’m always up for a challenge, and the MTA has really set the bar high with this,” he said after clinching the top spot.
Talking about the turnstiles, Josh pointed out, “That’s a huge expense that could go toward bettering other services. If we want people to stop using the turnstiles like this, we need to enhance our public transport.”
Several MTA employees positioned nearby to assist passengers observed the antics without intervention, even capturing the scene on their phones while a small crowd cheered them on.
Returning for a second round, the group continued unhindered, with MTA staff still filming the unusual spectacle.
“It was beyond what I anticipated,” Fisher concluded at the event’s close. “I didn’t expect this level of athleticism. We’re excited for the 2027 Fare Evasion Olympics.”
“My hope is that this event resonates with people regarding the MTA and makes them rethink the new turnstiles.”
“The Danny Fisher Show” will kick off with a live event at the end of February, with plans to air the Olympics in March.
