\u201cFare evasion is about 1% of passengers and is costing the network about \u00a31,700 a week, which is right down from what it was.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMr Coppard attributed this drop in fare evasion to newly introduced handheld ticket machines, to which a spokesperson said\u00a0\u201cspeeds\u00a0up the taking of payments and checking passes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A SYMCA spokesperson also said: \u201cThere are two types of non-payments, one where someone deliberately avoids paying and one where, on a short journey, the conductor may not have time to reach the passenger on a busy tram.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the 1 percent figure is based solely on data from the new machines and only records passengers who deliberately refuse to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those whose tickets are not checked due to trams being too busy are not included in the statistics.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shef News spoke to a ticket inspector, who asked to remain anonymous, who challenged that the problem has significantly improved: “I\u00a0have heard that rumour too,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0still the same as it has been, some areas are worse than others, you get a lot of junkies and no matter what you do none of them will ever pay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shef News contacted SYMCA regarding these statements but the authority reiterated their original statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regular tram user Sam Cupid said he still thinks the problem is the same as it was: \u201cThe problem is never going to be completely eradicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Last week I saw someone get on and refuse to pay, I think if more conductors were employed during peak times it would almost cover the problem.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number of people evading fares was not measured before 2025, meaning there is no credible data available to be able to say that levels are down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n