An analysis of subway fare enforcement statistics finds, in theory, jumping the turnstile might be the most affordable way to ride the rails.
According to the Daily News, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority estimated fare beaters entered the system without paying about 18.5 million times in 2009.However, only 120,000 summonses were handed out that year.
That means a routine fare evader can expect to be fined $100 about once every six to 13 weeks.
After fines, that same fare-scammer could save about $60 over the cost of six weeks worth of weekly MetroCards.
Fare evasion cost the MTA $31 million last year.
The MTA says arrests for fare evasion are up 5.5 percent from last year.