San Francisco transit officials are warning that Muni riders can see more transit fare inspectors in the summer, particularly on Muni Metro and on weekends. It’s part of the transportation agency’s plans to curb fare evasion.
That’s the warning San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Rewers gave while giving an update on the agency’s latest results on fare evasion rates. In his presentation, Rewers told the board that the number of inspections has nearly doubled per hour and that revenue per rider has increased by 6 percent from February 2024 to February 2025.
Since July of last year, the SFMTA said that there was a 30 percent decrease in riders not able to show proof of payment to a transit fare inspector. Rewers said the agency has data for every Muni line and deploys inspectors on lines with a high rate of fare evasion, with a goal of decreasing the rate over the number of weeks or months. He said the expectation is that Muni riders see fare inspectors on vehicles consistently on Muni vehicles. The current fine is $130.
Transit fares currently make up approximately 7 percent of the SFMTA’s revenue. Before the pandemic, it was more than 15 percent. Some of the reasons for the lower fare revenue included not increasing fares during the height of the pandemic, fewer people riding Muni, and an increase in riders not paying their fares during the pandemic.
Rewers categorized fare evaders as those who were not deliberately avoiding paying, such as having technical difficulties with the reader or forgetting to reload their Clipper card amount, and other riders who deliberately do not pay because they see others not paying.
“Rider behavior is also a key component,” Rewers told the board. “I don’t see three other people pay, why should I pay? And when that kind of consistent message where people see that, we start losing people who want to comply with the rules.”
He added that before the pandemic, riders may have felt it was their “responsibility” to pay, but now riders may only pay if they think they will get caught.
“We really want to work with the community to say, paying your fare is an investment in Muni,” Rewers said.
The SFMTA is also working on phasing out its MuniMobile payment app, where riders can pay for Muni fares, including an all-day pass not available on Clipper, and activate them for use. Muni riders who use the app are not required to tag at the reader on Muni vehicles. SFMTA officials have previously said the app has added to the perception that some Muni riders are not paying because of not tagging.
Rewers said the phasing out of the MuniMobile app is pending on the activation of the next generation of the Clipper card system, which is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
There’s still no word yet from the MTC on an official date to activate the new system but previous presentations from MTC staff to transit agencies part of the Clipper Card executive board were aiming for a late spring launch of this year.