KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Notices for the new bus fares were up yesterday at Ala Moana Shopping Center's bus stops.
Bus users
acclimate to
fare increaseStarting today, passes
and ID cards are available
to seniors and the disabled
Mae Lambert, waiting for a bus home yesterday after a morning shopping at Ala Moana Center, is understanding about paying higher fares.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, Oct. 08, 2003>> The daily bus fare for people with disabilities is $1 while the monthly bus pass is $5 and the annual pass is $30. A graphic on Page A7 in Monday's early edition incorrectly stated that those prices applied to people without disabilities.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
"We have to accept it. It's hard for everybody," Lambert said. "The bus drivers have families, too."
Lambert, a 73-year-old Pearl City resident, has been using a biannual bus pass, and now plans to buy an annual pass.
Starting today, senior citizens and disabled riders can obtain their new bus passes and identification cards at TheBus offices at 811 Middle St. and at the Blaisdell Center. Beginning next week, other locations will be available.
Today also marks the first day most bus riders will pay the new fares to commute back and forth from work. Adult bus fares are $2 a ride, and $1 for youths, senior citizens and disabled passengers.
After the 32-day bus strike ended, the city provided free bus service Monday through Friday last week to entice passengers back onto city buses. City Transportation Director Cheryl Soon said she expects to have a count today for the number of passengers who rode the bus over the weekend, when the new bus fares took effect.
After the City Council voted last month to increase bus fares, members of the Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 ratified a five-year contract. The deal gives bus workers wage increases in the last two years of the contract and pension contributions in the last three years of the contract.
Though some bus riders at Ala Moana Center said they will continue to ride the bus despite the hike in fares, one rider said the new bus fares will hurt senior citizens, primarily those who live on a fixed income.
"It angers me that they have to pay more," said Ron Pike of Waikiki.
Pike, a security officer at Hawaiian Electric Co., said he plans to continue riding the bus, but questioned Mayor Jeremy Harris' priorities after the mayor said the city had no money for pay raises for bus workers.
"They're spending millions of dollars on beautification projects," Pike said.
Existing senior and disabled bus passes will be honored by bus drivers until Nov. 1. Those passengers will then have four options for TheBus:
>> Purchase a $30 annual bus pass. These passes will have a photo of the purchaser.
>> Purchase a $5 monthly pass. This pass must be used with a photo identification card, which will be sold for $10 at the processing centers. The identification card is valid for four years.
>> Pay a $1 reduced rate a ride using the identification card. The $10 photo identification is required for this option.
>> Pay $2 a ride without the identification card.
Lambert said she considers the new annual bus pass a way to save money.
"It's a savings no matter what," she said, adding that she would spend more if she paid the daily fare.
Despite the increase, Waipahu resident Violeta Cabuyadao, 48, said the main thing is that the city buses are back in service.
"It's a little bit higher, but it's all right," said Cabuyadao, a housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Waikiki. "Hopefully, it won't increase more."
Other bus riders said they are not bothered by the new fares.
"It's fine with me," said Hawaii Kai resident Sally Toyoshima, 82. "I don't mind."
Toyoshima and her sister, Margaret Martin, 75, of Kailua, said they both plan to replace their biannual bus passes with annual passes.
"Everybody's happy," Toyoshima said. "We depend on the bus."
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Places for passes
Senior citizens and disabled passengers can pick up their new bus passes at these locations:>> Today through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Neal Blaisdell Center in the Hawaii suite.
>> Today and continuously on weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at TheBus office at 811 Middle St.
>> Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wahiawa District Park, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall, and Windward Mall center court.
>> Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Waimanalo District Park, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall and Windward Mall center court.
>> Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Makua Alii Senior Citizen Center, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall and Windward Mall center court.
>> Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Kaneohe Community Center, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall and Windward Mall center court.
>> Oct. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pearlridge Satellite City Hall and Windward Mall center court.
>> Oct. 21 to Oct. 24, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Neal Blaisdell Center in the Hawaii suite.
