Hyperinflation Sets In - Sch Bus Fee UP 20%!

[makapaaa]

Nov 25, 2009

School bus fees to go up

Up to 20% hike to offset losses from fewer students after fitting seat belts

<!-- by line -->By Maria Almenoar
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All existing small school buses must install seat belts by 2011. -- ST FILE PHOTO

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SEVERAL school bus operators will be increasing their fees by 10 per cent to 20 per cent when the new school term starts in January.
Parents will pay between $4.50 and $20 more a month. Current monthly rates range from $45 to $100, depending on the distance to the schools.
Operators said they were raising fares to offset losses from having fewer students on board once they install seat belts.
A new rule to improve bus safety was implemented in April, requiring new small buses to have seat belts, while existing small school buses must do so by 2011.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that out of the 1,200 small buses that ferry children, seat belts have been fitted in 955 vehicles.
These buses, which could carry about 15 students before, can take only 10 students with the seat belts fitted.
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[Glaringly]

Will they extend this rule to public buses? Hope not, otherwise bus company would have the excuse to double or triple their fare, since there won't be standing room for passengers.

 

[oklor]

Hope the parents better dun complain so much this time. Last time it was them who make such a big hype over the issue of installing seat belts on buses. Now the idea is finally implemented and operators are now shifting their cost to the consumers now.