Drivers take advantage

[NewsWhore]

Transport fares have gone up by 67% during the first six months of the year, but fuel prices have only gone up 13.3% and 23.8% for gasoline and GLP. El Caribe writes that bus unions have been complaining that fares must be increased to cover their costs and arguing that passengers should absorb those cost increases. But the disproportionate increase in fares demonstrates that drivers are in fact increasing their profit margins. Bus fares have gone up in recent weeks without any official policy and the increases have been arbitrary. Some drivers will charge RD$5, RD$10 and RD$15 more per route, on the grounds that things are more expensive. This has left many of the poorest people in the DR with few transport alternatives, since buses and taxis are their only option.

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