The MTA is comparing single-ride fares with "effective" cost per ride of a then-$81 30 day pass, which they amortize over around 70 rides, which is a bit high for the average person in my experience (though not ridiculous).

It might be more accurate to compare the single-ride fare then with the single-ride fare at the time the photo was taken, which was either $2.00 or $2.25 (the price changed in 2009, I think).

I surprised that they don't have a commuter ticket system. In my city the commuter ticket price is calculated to be somewhat cheaper than return fare*20 as well as being a tax deductible.

Did they have multi-day passes back then? It might be reasonable to compare the cheapest options available then.

They did not. You actually bought metal subway tokens that you dropped into a coin slot on the turnstile.

See:

https://untappedcities.com/2011/07/06/subway-tokens-a-dose-o...

They're comparing a single-ride fare to a monthly-pass fare. A single ride fare cost $2.00 in 2008[1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_transit_fares#Fa...

The obvious part of the lie to me is that they would raise fares to increase revenue, and claim that because of the 30-day and 7-day discounts you wouldn't be paying any more.

Huh? How are you going to increase revenue if no one is paying more.

Tourists. We have quite a few of them here.