The Government Increases Bus Fares

The government has decide to increase bus fares for bus routes up to 9 km. Beginning June 1, 2008, the bus fare (single ticket) is ALL 30, an increase of ALL 10 for a single ticket. However, bus companies were calling for an increase to ALL 50 per single ticket. Monthly tickets are going to cost ALL 900 for one route, or ALL 1,200 for all routes. The government also decided that participants in World War II, disabled people, and others are going to pay full fare. These groups used to travel for free or at reduced fares. Only students will continue to travel at reduced rates. Their monthly tickets are going to cost ALL 600.
In a joint document, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finances declared that the increase of bus fares was because of rising oil prices. The two Ministries claim that without raising fares, the bus companies and municipalities cannot continue to increase the quality of service and the number of routes. Regarding people with disabilities, the Ministries claim that their decision was influenced by the increasing number of people who abuse the system. According to study conducted by the Albanian Institute of Transport Studies, around ten percent of bus passengers travelled for free every day in Tirana. Therefore, they decided to abolish the entire ‘system’. However, the Office for Consumer Protection opposed the decision. According to the Office, the bus companies serving the capital earn, each year, at least $7 million. The Office declared that, on average, 185,000 people travel every day by bus, paying single tickets, and another 15,000 people by monthly tickets. According to the calculation conducted by the Office of Consumer Protection, the old price, ALL 20, was more than enough to guarantee stable service for passengers and earnings for the bus companies.