Passengers attack Peru bus station over high fares
Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz
Protesting an "excessive" increase in the cost of bus fares, passengers in a city in Peru's central highlands attacked, vandalized and damaged a bus station.
Hundred of passengers in the city of Huancayo began throwing rocks at a bus station when bus companies did not agree to lower the cost of fares from 80 to 35 soles as had been previously agreed.
"The attitude passengers have taken is unfortunate but also that of bus companies that never respected the agreement made in the region, where it was agreed that an average fare and one that was within people's reach was 35 soles," said Freddy Sachahuamán, the regional head of transportation.
Sachahuamán explained that this was an ongoing problem and that bus companies had been abusing passengers for several years by charging them excessively.
"We don't know how to solve the problem because laws in Peru don't allow us to punish an excessive increase in the cost of bus fares," said Sachahuamán.
According to a correspondent for Andina News, the majority of protestors are people that want to return to Lima after having attended the Santiago celebration in Huancayo.
Israel J. Ruiz
Protesting an "excessive" increase in the cost of bus fares, passengers in a city in Peru's central highlands attacked, vandalized and damaged a bus station.Hundred of passengers in the city of Huancayo began throwing rocks at a bus station when bus companies did not agree to lower the cost of fares from 80 to 35 soles as had been previously agreed.
"The attitude passengers have taken is unfortunate but also that of bus companies that never respected the agreement made in the region, where it was agreed that an average fare and one that was within people's reach was 35 soles," said Freddy Sachahuamán, the regional head of transportation.
Sachahuamán explained that this was an ongoing problem and that bus companies had been abusing passengers for several years by charging them excessively.
"We don't know how to solve the problem because laws in Peru don't allow us to punish an excessive increase in the cost of bus fares," said Sachahuamán.
According to a correspondent for Andina News, the majority of protestors are people that want to return to Lima after having attended the Santiago celebration in Huancayo.