Public transport costs rise in line with fuel hikes

PUBLIC transport costs are set to rise tomorrow after a decision by the government to increase tariffs following a surge in international oil prices this week.

The changes, announced by Communications Minister Harris Thrassou, mean fare rises of between 12 and 25 per cent on long-distance, rural and urban buses and taxis.

The cost of an urban bus journey for over-18s (for distances up to 9 km) has risen from 50 to 60 cents, while a journey of more than 9km will cost 70 cents.

The price of a monthly bus pass for journeys up to 9km is now £21.60 for over 18s, while a weekly pas costs £7.15. Students over 12 years of age can expect to pay £17.55 for the same monthly pass, with under-12s paying £13.50.

National Guard members in uniform and community card holders continue to travel on inner city buses for free.

Users of inter-city service taxis will also feel the pinch. Daytime tariffs will rise from £4.00 to £4.80 for journeys between Nicosia and Limassol, and £3.00 to £3.60 for journeys between Nicosia and Larnaca.

However, the tariff increases will not apply to private taxi firms – despite the fact that many petrol stations on the island hiked up fuel prices on Tuesday.

Melios Georgiou, Permanent Secretary for the union for small businesses (POVEK) called for taxi tariffs to be adjusted accordingly.

“There have been considerable increases in oil prices internationally and fares should also go up.”

Georgiou said POVEK would be looking into the situation in the next few days and submitting its proposals to the government.

“We expect the government to show understanding,” he said.

But a source at a private taxi firm in Nicosia said tariff rises would not help business.
“I don’t think the private taxi tariffs should go up,” the source said, suggesting that a better solution would be the removal of VAT from cab fares.

“We have proposed this to the government but they haven’t taken our proposals on board,” he said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.