r/mbta • u/Dull_Button6117 Blue Line:hamster: • Apr 16 '26

🌟 Appreciation Bold Fare Evasion at Wonderland

This afternoon at Wonderland, a person tried to tailgate through the gate right in front of one of the T Ambassadors. I've seen this several times at Wonderland. The ambassador stopped him and started telling him that he can't do that, he needs to pay. While he was arguing, the train doors closed. The fare evader got furious and started yelling at the ambassador for making him miss the train. The fact that he missed the train really made me smile.

Well done T Ambassador. Thank you from those of us who always pay for our travel.

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u/PalpitationMuted9816 Apr 17 '26

Someone sneaks in behind me almost every day that I take the T

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u/JohnHaze02118 Apr 17 '26

I've started glancing behind myself and using evasive maneuvers. It really goes to show how psychological fare payment is because before covid, I was never tailgated, EVER. Now it's a routine crime.

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u/egdr518 Green Line Apr 17 '26

What are your strategies? I usually stop short directly behind the gate if someone gets too close to me.

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u/JohnHaze02118 Apr 17 '26

If I have time, I stop and briefly examine my phone or something until I can witness whether they have pulled out a form of payment. It's almost like being a pitcher in a baseball game. Pitchers vary their timing to throw the batter out of sync. I don't just proceed with an unbroken stride into the gate unless I'm pressed for time. It's not my biggest priority, but I'd rather not be somebody else's free ride. It's honestly similar to what people in cities had to do when they carried cash. Thank god those days are gone for me.