Mamdani’s Free NYC Buses Promise Comes With Transit Trade-Offs

Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign to tackle New York City’s affordability crisis has struck a chord with voters, helping him clinch the Democratic nomination Tuesday in a major upset. But one of his signature promises — free buses — is raising questions about feasibility, funding and whether a NYC mayor could actually deliver.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates the city’s bus network, with more than a million weekday rides on average. Bus commuters tend to be lower-income compared to subway riders or drivers, which puts the $2.90 fare to ride into sharper focus. It’s part of why Mamdani is pledging to permanently eliminate ...