MTA chief James Lieber restated his opposition to the free‑bus proposal advanced by Mamdadi after a recent incident in which a passenger was tackled on a city bus for suspected fare evasion.
Mamdadi and a spokesperson said that eliminating fares would prevent confrontations like the one that occurred, while Lieber maintained his stance against adopting a fare‑free system.
The MTA continues to charge fares for bus rides, and the violent encounter has revived debate over the suggested fare‑free bus service.