PITY those who are dependant on bus travel, for they have been hit with the seventh rise in just 30 months.
First Bus has put its fares up by between six and 10 per cent, citing rising energy and fuel costs and increased investment.
No doubt their costs have risen - but so have the costs of their customers. Gas, electricity and fuel price rises have hit all consumers hard - but, unlike First, they cannot pass the costs on to anyone else.
Although there are more new buses, maybe Bolton MPs Dr Brian Iddon and David Crausby are right when they call for more local control over services.
Perhaps the only way is to reverse the privatisation, making local councils responsible for providing decent, low cost public transport. Only then will we begin to persuade people to leave their cars at home.
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