Relieved bus riders resigned to higher fares
| • | Week of free bus service offered to coax riders |
| • | Money saved in strike not for raises |
| • | Bus strike left everyone winning some, losing some |
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Bus riders may be angry about the strike and irritated about having to dig deeper in their pocketbooks to pay higher fares, but they expressed deep relief that the buses could resume next week.
For those who have had no choice but to rely on their own two feet and the kindness of others for the past month, restoration of bus service will help them resume their regular routines.
"I really miss the bus," said Salt Lake resident Jobi Howell.
Howell has had to take a city shuttle to Ala Moana, then walk 10 or 15 minutes to her job at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. She said she will resume taking the bus, even though paying $40 for a monthly pass that cost $27 in June is "kind of a little bit hard for us."
"I just wish it was back to normal," she said.
For the first week, bus service may seem even better than usual, because Mayor Jeremy Harris announced yesterday that rides will be free Monday through Friday.
City officials have been worried that the prolonged strike and increase in fares would lead to a significant drop in ridership, and savings from the bus strike will only cover a 8 percent drop, a city spokeswoman said. The free rides are a way to encourage people to get back on the bus.
However, once the free rides are over, bus fares will increase from $1.75 to $2 for adults and 75 cents to $1 for youths. Pass holders will pay more as well under the measure passed by the City Council on Wednesday aimed at raising $6.8 million to cover a shortfall in the bus budget.
University of Hawai'i student Li-Anne Delavega, 18, said $40 a month to ride the bus seems fair.
"I guess if that's the way they're going to make money, then that's the way they're going to make money," she said. "I catch the bus every day, so if you tally up all the money it takes for me to catch the bus if I were to pay it each way, it's more than $40."
At the beginning of the strike, Delavega had to walk about an hour from her home in Kaka'ako to UH. Now she walks to Ala Moana and waits 30 to 40 minutes to catch a city shuttle up to the university.
"It's been pretty hard," she said.
Disabled rider Lola Miyashiro, 41, noted that a $30 annual pass is going to take a huge bite out of her monthly budget.
"I only get $50 a month because I live in a care home," she said.
However, the Kalihi resident said, "I can afford it. I have to if I want to get around."
Sal Nillias, 69, also can afford to pay $30 a year for a senior pass, but with more than a year left on his current two-year pass, he is not happy about having to get another one.
"It's like a contract. You gotta honor your contract to the end," Nillias said. "I paid in good faith until 2005, and I should ride until 2005."
He said there is nothing on the bus pass that says it is subject to change.
"They're fighting over the contract, how about my contract?" he asked.
However, even if he has to pay $30, Nillias said he plans to buy a new annual pass.
"Not to get that would be foolish for me," he said.
Leilehua High School junior Traci Pacheco, 16, said the increase in youth bus passes from $13.50 to $20 will hit her parents hard because they buy passes for all four of their children.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
