• Fare evasion on Auckland buses accounted for almost 3% of journeys in the past six months.
• Transport officers caught 12,700 fare evaders, with 4.8% receiving infringements and 2.4% warnings.
• Act MP Parmjeet Parma calls for stronger enforcement, citing safety concerns for bus drivers and passengers.

People are hopping onto Auckland buses without paying thousands of times a day, most aren’t getting caught or punished, and three routes are being particularly affected.

Figures provided exclusively to Newstalk ZB show people have hopped on without paying on almost 3% of journeys — about 1 million times — over the past six months.

Transport officers caught 12,700 fare evaders over that period, issuing infringements to 4.8% and warnings to another 2.4 percent.

Officers were also dealing with thousands of on-board security incidents, including violent attacks, and mayor Wayne Brown said drivers who asked people to pay often faced threats or abuse.

The figures have alarmed Auckland-based Act MP Parmjeet Parma, who has been leading a campaign for Auckland Transport to address fare evasion.

“The question is why so many people were not issued at least a warning — this weak enforcement of rules is leading to a compromise of public safety on buses, and it’s becoming a matter of physical safety for bus drivers.”

Significantly higher rates of fare-dodging have been recorded on route 33 (between Papakura and Ōtāhuhu), route 18 (between New Lynn and the City Centre), and route 13 (Te Atatū Loop to Henderson).

Auckland Transport has identified Papakura, Henderson and Ōtāhuhu as so-called “hot spots”, Tuesday as the most common day for fare evasion, and the Monday afternoon rush-hour as the most common time.

Public Transport Director Stacey van der Putten said most non-payment was by “teenagers and school students”, but fare evasion was “not tolerated” and people who refused to pay could be fined or asked to leave.

She said transport officers patrolled the entire network and staff used driver incident logs to deploy officers to high-risk areas.

Parma said this targeted enforcement action was proving effective on the 33 route, but claimed Auckland Transport was downplaying the scale of broader problem and its connection to other anti-social and violent behaviour.

“Turning a blind eye to fare-dodging is sending a message that it’s OK to not respect rules,” she said.

Ten most common routes for fare evasion, based on estimated untagged patronage in the week starting November 18:

33 - Papakura Interchange to Ōtāhuhu Station via Great South Road (1127)
33 - Ōtāhuhu Station to Papakura Interchange via Great South Road (1092)
18 - City Centre to New Lynn via Great North Road (624)
13 - Te Atatu Peninsula Loop to Henderson (582)
18 - New Lynn to City Centre via Great North Road (508)
361 - Ōtara / MIT To Manurewa Interchange via Mahia Road (412)
372 - Papakura Shops to Keri Hill Loop (398)
CTY - Wynyard Quarter to Karangahape Road via Queen Street (382)
66 - Point Chevalier Beach to Sylvia Park via Mt Albert Road (377)
66 - Sylvia Park to Pt Chevalier Beach via Mt Albert Road (376)

Ten most common times for fare evasion, based on estimated untagged patronage in the week starting November 18:

Monday afternoon peak (1808)
Tuesday afternoon peak (1755)
Wednesday daytime (1736)
Friday afternoon peak (1698)
Wednesday afternoon peak (1671)
Tuesday daytime (1664)
Monday daytime (1580)
Thursday daytime (1568)
Thursday afternoon peak (1478)
Friday daytime (1474)