Democratic socialist mayors' plans for free bus rides spark fear of 'rolling homeless encampments'

The rise of far-left and democratic socialist mayors in the United States and their campaign promises of free goods and services – particularly fare-free bus rides, is sparking concern about potential "rolling homeless encampments." 

The wave of such mayors and their campaign promises effectively started last year with Zohran Mamdani winning the New York City mayor's race, in part, on a campaign promise to make transit buses "fast and free."

Last month, Janeese Lewis George won the Washington, D.C., Democratic mayoral primary, campaigning in part on making bus rides free for all city residents enrolled in the SNAP food assistance program. 

The democratic-socialist will almost certainly win the General Election in November, considering Washington, D.C., has never elected a Republican mayor since it established home rule in 1974. 

Most recently, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, considered by some a "progressive" Democrat, announced a plan Wednesday to eventually make ridership free across the entire public transit system in Los Angles County.

Bass, in a tough reelection bid, made the announcement to the county's Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors. She also told board members her vision focuses on expanding existing low-income and student fare relief.

Bonner Cohen, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy, told Just the News on Thursday that implementing no-fare bus ride programs in such major cities would cause “predictable consequences” in terms of public safety and would lead to an even greater exodus from blue cities than is already happening.

Buses would become “rolling homeless encampments,” he said, “because once the word gets out that the buses are free, rather than spending a cold night out on the streets, why not spend a cold night in a bus, which presumably has a heating system?” 

Such a situation occurred in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic when its subway system didn't strictly enforce fare-collection policies. 

Cohen also argues wealthier people can “deal with this” by leaving – and many already are. However, those in the middle class are “stuck,” and “sooner or later, you’re going to run out of their money, and you’re not going to be able to have free public transportation." 

While D.C. had a net increase of about 2,335 residents in 2025, 54,000 people left L.A. County from July 2024 to July 2025 and NYC’s population dropped by 12,000 in 2025.

Meanwhile, Lewis George and Mamdani, already about seven months into his term, are facing the practical reality of such fare plans.

Mamdani has yet to deliver on the “free” part due to numerous financial hurdles and state-level approval delays. And Lewis George says she's exploring ways to pay for others to ride buses for free.

In the nation's capitol, bus fares account for only about 10% to 15% of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's overall passenger revenue, with the vast majority of fare revenue coming from the agency's Metrorail system. Still, that percentage translates to about $59.9 million in projected annual revenue. 

Supporters of such plans point to the fact that many riders already don't pay, and enforcement adds to costs and is dangerous for bus drivers. 

Roughly 73% of those who ride WAMATA buses skip paying fares, the agency reported in May. In the New York system, 48% of passengers don't. And roughly 46% of riders commit fare evasion on LA Metro services, with specific bus and train routes climbing to more than 60-70%.

Katherine Freund, CEO of the Independent Transportation Network of America, sees free bus rides as a net positive. 

ITNAmerica is a national nonprofit that provides community-based transportation for the elderly and disabled.

Freund told Just the News on Thursday that when fixed route transit like buses are free of fares, ridership increases, resulting in air pollution and traffic congestion decreasing.

Freund also thinks the initiative will increase employment for low-income people because “transportation is a barrier to employment,” ultimately leading to improvements in cities’ tax bases and citizens’ social and economic positions. To her, these benefits help offset the loss of the fares.

Both Freund and Cohen believe that politicians such as Bass, Lewis George and Mamdani made the campaign promise because it’s popular among likely voters, ultimately increasing chances of election and reelection.

Katherine Pugh is a reporter for Just the News. Follow her on X for more coverage.