17 November 2009 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) has raised the prices of Metrobus tickets by 33 percent. Full fare Metrobus tickets now cost TL 2 instead of TL 1.50, while discounted fare tickets rose from TL 0.85 to TL 1.
The Metrobus, which travels in a reserved lane, have been a favorite form of transport of many İstanbulites as they take less time and come more frequently than regular city buses. Residents of İstanbul, however, do not plan to abandon the Metrobus despite the price hike. Many have instead chosen to complain. “This new increased fare does not reduce the number of commuters. The Metrobus eased our lives,” a commuter said.Another İstanbul resident said his monthly expenditures will increase with this new fare but that there has been no change to his income. “I have a daily wage of TL 15, and I give TL 10 of it for transportation,” he said. A group from the Labor Party (EMEP) protested the price increase at the Avcılar Metrobus station.
