Passengers face a new year public transport ticket price hike in Canberra. Photo: Jeffrey Chan
Ticket inspectors on Canberra's buses did not issue a single fine last financial year, despite travelling on more than 11,000 bus services.
A spokeswoman for ACTION buses said ticket inspectors travelled on 11,200 bus services in the 2014-15 financial year but did not issue a single fine for passengers without a ticket or misuse of concession entitlements.
Instead, 171 warnings were given to passengers in relation to fare related matters. None resulted in an infringement being issued.
Under provisions of the road transport public passenger services regulations, passengers face fines of $143 for most fare related infringements. The number of buses with inspectors is normally between 50 and 100 each day in Canberra.
"ACTION's transport officers have the authority under road transport legislation to request passengers show their ticket, provide evidence of concession entitlement, provide their name and address or direct a person to leave a bus," the spokeswoman said.
"Most passengers when questioned about a fare related matter agreed to pay a full fare or the difference between adult and concession."
Meanwhile, Canberra public transport passengers face a new year ticket price hike of 2.5 per cent, adding between 10 and 20¢ to bus fares.
From Saturday, January 2, a peak adult ticket using the MyWay smartcard will increase from $2.91 to $2.98. Off peak adult tickets will rise from $2.31 to $2.37.
From next month, cash fares for single trip adult tickets will rise from the current rate of $4.60 to $4.70, with cash daily fares rising from $8.80 to $9.00.
For passengers with concession status, MyWay fares will increase for peak use from $1.45 to $1.49 and for off peak use from $0.81 to $0.83. MyWay student fares for tertiary passengers will increase from $1.45 to $1.49 and school students travelling on school days will increase from $1.10 to $1.13.
Cash fares for adult single tickets will increase from $4.60 to $4.70, or for daily tickets from $8.80 to $9.00. Single concession cash tickets will stay at $2.30 and daily cash concessions will increase from $4.40 to $4.50.
Territory and Municipal Services Directorate public transport director Ian McGlinn said ACTION bus services continue to be a competitive alternative for passengers travelling to and from work.
"ACTION customers using MyWay to catch the bus to and from work during peak hour will continue to be almost $200 a month better off than those who choose to drive and pay for parking in the CBD," Mr McGlinn said.
Despite the increase, ACTION ticket prices remain among the cheapest in the country, he said.
"A trip from Gungahlin to the city during peak times is only $2.98 when paying with MyWay. A similar journey, over 12 kilometres, can cost between $3.50 and $4.50 in other jurisdictions."
The ACT government will create a new Transport Canberra agency from July 1, bringing together ACTION and the Capital Metro Agency, planning the city to Gungahlin light rail line.
This week it was reported police have requested MyWay users' travel history or contact details 24 times since July 2014, showing a rise in the frequency of requests compared with the first four years of MyWay's operation in Canberra.
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