MTA Responds to Viral Videos of Subway Riders Bypassing New Fare Evasion Gates
- - MTA Responds to Viral Videos of Subway Riders Bypassing New Fare Evasion Gates
Ashley VegaJanuary 20, 2026 at 5:21 AM
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New OMNTY Gates -
A Brooklyn content creator known as Kiingspiider went viral for bypassing the MTA's new subway gates that were installed to prevent fare evasion
The MTA said it’s monitoring the pilot rollout as riders continue testing the gates’ limits
Kiingspiider said he wants the MTA to focus more on safety and service, not just new gate designs
A Brooklyn content creator known online as Kiingspiider has gone viral for numerous videos bypassing the new MTA gates installed to prevent fare evasion.
Speaking with FOX 5 NY, the creator, who posts as @officialkiingspiider, spoke about what he described as “loopholes” in the new system.
In the clips, Kiingspiider performed stunts that ranged from vaulting over barriers to maneuvering through station entrances in unexpected ways — oftentimes donning a Spider-Man costume. Some of the footage went beyond quick jumps and included moments where he appeared to force his way through by prying open glass fare gate doors. The viral videos have racked up millions of views.
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Stock photo of the MTA logo
Kiingspiider said he isn’t doing it just for shock value and insists the message is bigger than the stunts themselves. “We need to focus more on safety, and the service of the subway system,” he said in the interview.
He also told the outlet that he believes the MTA is “wasting millions of dollars” on the new fare gates. At the same time, he claimed he and others in his group all have jobs and remain respectful during interactions with police and MTA workers.
The MTA, however, was not impressed by the attention the videos are getting. FOX 5 NY reported that the agency referred to Kiingspiider and his group of friends as “minor league trolls.”
In a statement shared with the outlet, an MTA spokesperson said, “This is a free pilot program with technology from leading companies in the world, and so far most riders seem to like it."
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“The opinions of minor-league trolls who steal rides from New Yorkers for internet attention are less of a concern,” the statement adds.
PEOPLE has reached out to the MTA for comment.
The fare gate rollout is part of what the MTA describes as a major effort to curb fare evasion, and the agency says it is watching closely as riders test the system’s limits. The transit authority is piloting three new styles of fare gates at 20 stations citywide.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
