"A newly-formed coalition of advocates took to the City Hall steps on Wednesday, demanding that Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council take immediate action to make the Big Apple's subways and buses cheaper and faster, including by doubling the size of its half-fare program. The collective dubbing itself the Riders for Affordable Transit coalition made three central asks during a rally on Transit Equity Day, which honors the birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks."
"We want to make sure that transit is reliable, we want to make sure that folks can get to and from on time, said Danna Dennis, a senior organizer with the group Riders Alliance. We want to make sure that it's accessible, she continued. We definitely need more elevators, more ramps. And when we talk about access, we're talking about money, because a lot of us New Yorkers are struggling."
"The coalition includes groups such as Riders Alliance, Vocal New York, the Community Service Society, and the Permanent Citizens Advisory Council to the MTA (PCAC). It is seeking to build on momentum from Mamdani's victory powered by a platform that centered a proposal to make city buses fast and free. A commuter paying the fare while passing through a new subway gate at the 23rd Street-Baruch College station on Jan. 23, 2026.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell"
The Riders for Affordable Transit coalition rallied at City Hall calling for immediate action to make subways and buses cheaper and faster. The coalition demands dramatic expansion of eligibility for the city's half‑fare Fair Fares program, currently at or below 145% of the federal poverty level. Additional demands include speeding up bus and paratransit service and making all bus and paratransit rides free. Advocates also call for improved physical accessibility through more elevators and ramps and connect fare relief to New Yorkers' financial struggles. Member groups include Riders Alliance, Vocal New York, the Community Service Society, and PCAC.
Read at www.amny.com
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