Surge in fuel prices triggers massive public transport fare hikes across Turkey

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Over the past week, nine cities in Turkey, including İzmir and Bursa, the third and fourth largest cities, witnessed substantial increases in public transportation fares.

The Transportation Coordination Centers (UKOME), which include representatives from local administrations and the government, applied hikes ranging from 25% to 85%. The other cities affected by the fare increase are Adana, Yozgat, Erzurum, Uşak, Afyon, Tokat, and Kocaeli.

The government had fulfilled its pre-election promises by raising the minimum wage by 34%, retiree pensions by 25%, and public servant salaries by an average of 75% after the May elections. However, following these raises, it implemented numerous tax and fee increases in July. Due to an unprecedented hike in Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on fuel, prices rose by more than 50% compared to June 21.

In July, inflation surged by 10 points to reach 47% compared to the previous month.

Public transport operators remain dissatisfied

In Kocaeli, the Minibus and Bus Drivers' Chamber had requested a 100% fare increase, but the UKOME decided on an increase ranging from 54% to 63%. Consequently, the city's inner-city transportation fee rose from 8 liras to 13 liras. Discounted tickets for students, teachers, and people over 60 years old increased from 5.50 liras to 9 liras, while subscription fees were raised from 3.25 liras to 5 liras (1 US dollar = 26.99 Turkish liras).

The head of the chamber expressed dissatisfaction with the hikes, saying that "we'll demand another increase in three months."

In Yozgat, fares increased over 50%. The single student ticket fare increased from 6.50 liras to 10 liras, while the regular ticket increased from 7.50 liras to 12 liras.

In Bursa, public transportation fares rose between 40% and 60% starting from August 1.
Additionally, short-distance student subscription fees increased by 66% to 200 liras.

In İzmir, the UKOME raised the urban public transportation fare by 48%. The city's fuel price increase led the municipality to demand a 70.84% fare increase, but the UKOME settled on 48%.

Municipalities making losses despite hikes

Adana joined the cities increasing transportation fares, raising the fare for municipal buses and light rail systems from 4.5 liras to 7 liras for students and from 10 liras to 15 liras for adults. Private buses increased their student fare from 6.30 liras to 9.50 liras and the adult fare from 11.50 liras to 17 liras.

Despite the increases, the municipality has to subsidize public transport, the city's mayor said after the hikes.

Afyon also suffered losses despite fare increases. In the city, bus fares saw an 81% increase since the beginning of the year. Mayor Mehmet Zeybek explained that they still had to subsidize public transportation due to rising costs, even after the fare hikes.

In Tokat, the single ticket fare increased from 9 liras to 15 liras.

Erzurum also experienced two fare increases within two months. As of August 1, inner-city minibus fares rose from 8 liras to 11 liras for adults and from 5 liras to 7 liras for students. (HA/VK)