Increased bus fares have been labelled the 'cherry on top' of the cost of living crisis by commuters. Nottingham City Transport will introduce increased fares from Sunday, August 28, amidst what bosses say are rising fuel and staffing costs.
NCT highlighted diesel was costing the company 50 per cent more, gas prices had doubled, and driver pay rates had been increased by 8.5-9.5 per cent this year in response to the national shortage of bus drivers. It now means that bus users will pay £2.50 for an adult single and £1.50 for an under-19 single. The current price is £2.40 for an adult single and £1.30 for an under 19 single.
Passengers recognised running costs had risen but worried the higher fare would impact those already struggling. Joanie Lee-Patrick, 34, said the bus fare rising was the "awful" cherry on top of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
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She said: "It’s awful, it’s the cherry on top. I get that NCT may be struggling too and workers need to be paid, but when you can just about afford things as it is, more and more people are going to be struggling."
The barista from Mapperley added: "It may just be bus fare to some but it’s a lifeline to others. Luckily all these elderly people have free bus passes because they’d struggle if they didn’t. I have to pay bus fare to get into town and on top of bills rising and food inflation now people have to worry about travel.”
The price of an all-day ticket in the Nottingham zone has also risen by 30p for adults to £4.70 and by 20p for under-19s to £2.70.
Brenda Robinson, 66, who lives in Sherwood and gets her free bus pass in a year, said: “People use the buses a lot and minimum wage isn’t going up. How are people going to get to the job centre and find work?
“Bus fares going up, it also penalises larger families. Wouldn’t they be better off having full buses than empty ones?”
An all-day ticket across the NCT network will soon cost £7 for an adult and £5.50 for an under-19 - these tickets will have risen by 50p. Group Rider tickets are also increasing from £6 to £7 for the Nottingham zone and from £9 to £10 for the NCT network zone.
Amy Jones, 24, who lives in Arnold and is a sales assistant, said: “It’s just another thing to pay more into. It’s been so expensive these past few months.
“I love NCT buses. I use them all the time they’re always on time and they run frequently. It’s just that, OK, it’s gone up now, but when will be the next time?”
Retiree David Flint, 78, from Sherwood, added: “Bus fares [have] reached the peak and a lot of people will suffer. With prices rising and empty shelves, I won’t buy certain things because it’s too expensive
"The system is broken. I worry for large families especially.”
There will no longer be a premium price of £10 for Group Rider tickets when travelling before 9.30am on weekdays. The outer area fares on South Notts 1, Pathfinder 26 and Sky Blue 46 will increase for the first time in three and a half years, with single fares rising by up to 80p and day return fares rising by up to 90p.
A short hop ticket remains at the same price of £1.50 and dogs remain at £1 for unlimited all-day travel across the network. NCT say despite the cost pressures on them, the average fare increase is below the current 10.1 per cent rate of inflation and is instead at 6 per cent.
David Astill, NCT’s managing director, said: “We appreciate these are difficult times for all and our business is contending with cost increases too. We have absorbed as much of the increase in staffing and fuel costs as we can and as a result, the increase on our main fares is well below the current rate of inflation.
"We are confident our fares continue to offer value for money with many discounted fare options for the regular traveller."
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