Although the court's fare rollback initially sounded pleasing to most residents, there were few people happy with the ruling in Ankara yesterday. 

Ankara residents woke up yesterday to a major disruption in public transportation as minibuses failed to run during the busiest hours of the day, while privately owned city buses did not operate all day in protest of a court decision decreasing bus and metro fares to 2003 levels. 

Bus fares reverted to the rates of 2003 as of yesterday in Ankara due to a ruling by the Ankara 2nd Administrative Court on a case launched by the Federation of Consumer Associations (TÜDEF). Accordingly, the TL 1.85 fare for buses and metro lines fell to Kr 90, while student fares dropped from TL 1.50 to Kr 60. The court rulings have also changed minibus rates, slashing the TL 1.85 fare for short rides to Kr 90 and the TL 2.20 fare for longer distances to TL 1.

Although the court's fare rollback initially sounded pleasing to most residents, there were few people happy with the ruling in Ankara yesterday. Mini buses and privately owned city buses protested the ruling in the busiest morning hours. In Ulus, where one of the busiest minibus hubs is located, residents were shocked to find not a single minibus in the area. Residents had to rely on metro lines, taxis and municipal buses, forming long lines at the bus station. The protest also caused traffic jams in the city, as many commuters who normally rely on public transportation chose to drive to work yesterday.

Privately owned buses and minibuses did not run yesterday in Ankara to protest a ruling by the Ankara 2nd Administrative Court, which reverted the bus fares to the rates of 2003 as of yesterday. The residents had to rely on municipal buses, forming long lines at the bus station. The protest also cause traffic jams in the city.

In the early morning hours more than a hundred commuters, most of them students trying to reach the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) and Hacettepe University campuses who usually ride the minibuses, were lined up hopelessly waiting for buses in front of the National Library. Mesut Karli (20), a student at ODTÜ, complained that he was late for his morning classes, adding that some of his friends had completely given up on going to school that day and returned to their homes.

There were also numerous accidents on Ankara roads, adding to the clogged traffic. Another city resident complained that she had missed her first day of an internship. Many others were unable to reach their jobs on the first day of the new prices.

“This fare reduction has turned into a major ordeal for us,” said one resident. However, some criticized the municipality for complaining about financial losses incurred by the new prices, saying Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek should have been prepared for the day. The Ankara Municipality also canceled fare transfers for consecutive rides on different modes of transportation to help make up for the fare income loss. “I think the municipality is actually making a profit because they’ve canceled ticket transfers,” said Riza Sahin (31).

“What’s the use of a cheaper fare if we can’t get on the buses?” asked one disgruntled Ankara commuter.

Others attempted to see the silver lining. Tülin Alpay (54) said: “It is true that this was major torture. But the city is so calm and silent without the minibuses and the private buses.”

Minibus operators were irked by the ruling as they noted that in the past several years there have been continuous hikes in fuel prices as well as other items. They say it is impossible to operate their business in 2010 at 2003 prices.

The municipality’s city bus company (EGO) General Manger Omer Ulu said they would not be decreasing bus frequency on major routes at peak hours but would have less frequent runs during other hours of the day when there are not as many passengers, in a written statement released yesterday.

He said EGO was closely following the protest by the privately owned city bus and mini bus drivers, saying no passengers have so far complained to EGO. He emphasized that EGO buses ran at their regular intervals yesterday morning but that they would have to cut down route frequency except during peak hours.

The Ankara Municipality says the ruling will cause serious financial damage to EGO. The municipality put up posters announcing that municipal busses will run at regular intervals from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. but that the busses will be less frequent at other hours.

09 March 2010, Tuesday

 Today’s Zaman