Should the bus be free? Transit advocates are divided

Riders board the Bx18 in the Bronx, one of five bus lines in New York City that was free last year under a temporary pilot program supported by state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor.

"Free buses" is one of the big ideas that helped Zohran Mamdani win the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City. But the track record in cities that have stopped collecting fares is mixed.

(Image credit: Joel Rose)