No Buses Next Week, A Possible Reality
More than one and a half million who daily take the bus daily may be left to walk, ride the bicycle or take a taxi, as bus operators say they cannot continue to operate in the face of low fares and increasing operating costs.

Martiza Hernández, president of the Foro Nacional de Transporte Público, said that there have been no fare increases on the some 800 routes since last October. The Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Aresep) has not granted any fare increases, as the cost of operating costs, especially the cost of gasoline, keeps going up, said Hernández.

Hernández added that the bus operators are not going to take to the streets in protest of pressure the government, rather, if the situation continues, they will gradually, reduce service beginning next week.

Hernández said that in short time there will be no buses operating.

The Aresep is currently studying a petition to increase bus fares. The government regulator is still in early stages of its study and it could be at least two months before it is completed.

In November 2005, the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) rejected an automatic bus fare adjustment, which obligated the Aresep to hold public hearings, slowing down the approval process.

Bus operators yesterday met at the El Tobogan to discuss the fare issue, including the requirement of installing handicap ramps on all buses, which deadline is September 13 for all to comply.

Hernández said that an issue that they want made clear from the government is the issuance of fines and sanctions for buses that do not comply with the ramp. "There is a lot of worry around this issue as many could lose their bus license plates", said Hernández.

The government has said it would reform Ley 7600 that requires the ramps to be installed on all buses by September 13. However, the reform has yet to be approved, and come next week, sanctions could be applied to buses that do not comply, which is the majority of the buses on the roads today.

Viviana Martín, vice-minister of Transport, reiterated her support to the bus operators and the commitment of the government todo  all possible to get the legal approval for the reform. The vice-minister said she expects the reform to make it to the Legislative Assembly in time to avoid any interruption of bus services.

Vice-minister Martín, appeasing the bus operators, also said that this is not their (bus operators) problem, but, rather, a national problem and if the approval was in their (administration's) hands it would have been already done.

In the face of the vice-minister's comments, Hernández, emphasized that is the last time that the bus operators will dialogue over these issues saying "neither Ley 7600 or the rising cost of fuel is our responsibility".

Though Hernández did not state how patient the bus operators will be or how much time they will give the government, the bus operators are hoping that the politicians act quickly in the face of this emergency.

Hernández restated that there will be no pressure for the time being, but their promises to cut bus service will become a reality if the government doesn't act quickly.