FURY AT SECOND BUS FARE HIKE IN A YEAR
GLASGOW bus passengers are facing a fare rise of as much as 13 per cent.
Campaigners have hit out at the move by First Glasgow with one pressure group calling it “outrageous”.
Changes to the fares will come into effect on December 2.
FIRST Glasgow’s plans to increase bus fares for the second time in less than a year have been branded “disgusting” by public transport campaigners.
The city transport partners announced on their website a new fare structure which would take effect from Sunday, December 2.
Under the plans, commuters would be hit with a 10p increase on the previous £2.30 standard adult fare, resulting in a 4 per cent increase per journey.
The biggest jumps in ticket prices, however, come for students and young people, who will see some yearly tickets rise by more than 13 per cent.
As well as the general increases for many adult fares, those choosing to buy their tickets from drivers will continue to pay more than app users purchasing ‘mTickets’.
Pressure group Get Glasgow Moving spoke out about the proposals, claiming this latest decision demonstrates the need for publicly-owned buses in the city.
Campaigner Ellie Harrison said: “I think it is disgusting, totally outrageous. This shows how broken the system is. Different fares just creates more inequality and those who do not have access to the app are being penalised.
“The companies are not regulated to the extent they need to be and are milking the people of Glasgow for all they can get without delivering the service we need. We know public ownership is the fairest system.”
Despite these increases, the company has confirmed that all children’s rates have been frozen, along with First Unlimited tickets.
City politicians have hit out at the transport provider, echoing calls for greater regulation of Glasgow’s buses.
MSP Johnann Lamont said: “For a lot of people across Glasgow buses are a vital lifeline and must be affordable and reliable. However this is not the case for many of my constituents who regularly contact me with concerns around accessing local buses.
“Again, we see an increase in fares on single adult tickets. We have to be careful people are not priced out of using public transport altogether.
“Only by regulating bus services in Scotland can we see a system that works for passengers rather than profit.”
First have said the dramatic rise in some student tickets is the result of those being extended to cover the whole year, compared to the academic calendar.
The company also explained their investment in
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on Facebook or Twitter their ticketing app, claiming that it reduces waiting times at stops and makes buying tickets easier. However, they offered no explanation as to why there was a disparity in ticket pricing.
A spokeswoman for First Glasgow added: “We need to review our fares to meet the rising variable costs that we face as a business, especially within materials and fuel the latter of which is forecast to rise by 6.5 per cent next year.
“We still believe, however, that travel by bus still offers excellent value for money.”