Controversial New Subway Gates in NYC
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s recent installation of new ticket gates at several New York City subway stations, costing around $1 billion, has drawn significant attention and mockery online after a video surfaced showing passengers easily bypassing them.
An Instagram account named “Fair Avoidance Olympics” has emerged, highlighting these gate breaches and attracting thousands of views. It features participants dressed in costumes running and jumping over turnstiles at Manhattan’s Broadway-Lafayette Street Station during late-night gatherings. The winner of this quirky contest received a $3 check, which, interestingly, is equivalent to the price of a subway ride.
Organizer Danny Fisher, who admits to avoiding fares, commented on the situation, saying, “It’s still incredibly winning. It’s not very effective. It’s just expensive.” This reflects a certain frustration with the effectiveness of the new gates.
Launched in late 2025, the new gates aimed to enhance fare compliance and improve passenger flow. Three designs featuring modern ‘paddle door’ gates replaced the old turnstile system at about 20 stations. This initiative is part of a $1.1 billion investment to modernize ticket gates at around 150 subway stations over the next five years, which constitutes about one-third of the subway system.
Social media influencer “Kying Spider” has been posting videos showing various methods to bypass the paddle gates. In one video, she is seen blindfolded and crawling through a gate using a cane as part of her demonstration.
Kying Spider mentioned to a local news outlet that her actions aim to highlight what she sees as a waste of taxpayer money, suggesting that funds could be better allocated to improving subway safety and service. “Many people are injured,” she noted, expressing concern about safety on the subway.
The MTA responded, emphasizing that this pilot program leverages advanced technology from leading companies and claimed most riders have responded positively. They dismissed criticisms from influencers who they described as seeking attention. “The opinions of minor-league trolls who steal cars from New Yorkers to get attention on the internet are less worrying,” said an MTA spokesperson.
