Diamond transportation woes…Deplorable roads justification for fare increase - drivers

Diamond transportation woes…Deplorable roads justification for fare increase – drivers

Feb 21, 2014 News

The deplorable condition of roads in Diamond and Grove Housing schemes is being cited by hire car drivers as justification for a recent increase in fares. For about two weeks, the drivers operating at Diamond car park have increased their fare from $100 to $140 for a “drop to spot”.
According to one operator, the fare for short drops along the public road remains $60, but operators were forced to increase the fare because of the terrible roads, which are “tearing up” their vehicles.
He stressed that they are not forcing commuters to pay the increase since they have an option. He explained that hire car drivers do not necessarily have to take passengers to their gates, and so the money requested is agreed upon by the operators.
The man explained that a commuter travelling in a Georgetown to Grove bus, and wanting to disembark at Herstelling, would pay the minibus conductor $80. However, if the passenger wants to go into a specific street in Herstelling he/she would have to pay what is requested by the conductor.
But, according to a passenger, the taxi drivers’ reason is not completely truthful since there are other factors such as competition from minibuses that travel from Georgetown to “inside” Diamond which is not a designated route, but is being allowed.
It was noted that the passengers are opting to travel with the minibuses destined for Diamond “inside” because of the $160 that they have to pay. This is more economical than to stop at the car park and join a car to go into the housing scheme.
According to a female commuter, she joined a hire car two Mondays ago and was informed by the driver that the new fare was $140. Upon inquiring about the increase, the driver said the taxi association authorized the increases and whosoever refuses to pay the fare should not travel with the hire cars.
The woman related that this is not the only transportation problem commuters destined for Diamond are encountering. She said that passengers are forced to pay $160 from Georgetown to “inside” Diamond, whether or not they disembark along the stretch.
According to the woman, if it becomes mandatory for passengers to pay the $140 for a “drop to spot” and $160 from Georgetown to Diamond, it would no longer be affordable for commuters to travel.
“Just look at it…It takes $460 for a person to travel to and from Diamond daily…that is $9,200 monthly. Come on, think of a family of four …that would be $36,800. That is a huge chunk of a minimum wage family’s income,” she stressed.

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Diamond transportation woes…Deplorable roads justification for fare increase – drivers

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