Montreal Metro Chaos: Riders Skip Fares Amid Ongoing STM Strike
Hey, so here’s what’s going on in Montreal right now—it’s quite the scene in the metro system. The STM strike is continuing, and it’s causing major disruptions in public transit. On top of that, a lot of riders are deciding not to pay for their trips, which is adding fuel to the fire.
Recently, news crews observed that at the Préfontaine station alone, at least 40 people bypassed the turnstiles in just one hour. That’s a lot of folks taking advantage of the situation. And this isn’t an isolated event—at Berri-UQAM station, about 20 people were caught doing the same thing in the middle of the afternoon. Police and STM special constables are present, but of course, they can’t be everywhere at once.
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The methods people are using are pretty varied. Some twist the turnstiles to squeeze through, others pretend to validate their tickets, while a few use the stroller and wheelchair access to slip past. A very small number even jump over the turnstiles altogether. It’s clear that while most riders are paying as they should, a noticeable number are taking shortcuts, which adds up financially for the transit system. The losses observed over just a couple of hours at these two stations were estimated at around $225, considering a single fare costs $3.75. The STM hasn’t revealed how much is lost to fare evasion annually, but it’s certainly significant.
The strike is also having a huge impact on monthly pass sales. In November 2025, only about 100,700 monthly passes were sold in Zone A, compared to over 302,900 in the same month last year—a drop of roughly two-thirds. The regional transit authority explains that the strike has majorly disrupted mobility across the network, leaving riders with little predictability, especially those who rely on public transit as their primary option.
Looking ahead, bus drivers plan to strike on November 15 and 16, meaning the entire public transport system could be brought to a standstill over the weekend, despite calls from Montreal’s new mayor, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, to avoid further disruptions. The STM says that constables and safety ambassadors are patrolling stations to discourage fare evasion, and those caught skipping payment are subject to fines. Still, with the strike ongoing, managing the system is proving extremely challenging.
So, Montrealers are really being forced to navigate a chaotic transit system, with the added tension of deciding whether to pay or risk skipping the fare. It’s a messy situation, and the city’s public transportation network is feeling the strain in real time.
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