They explained that the prices of fuel, spare parts and maintenance keep rising but that the bus fares have not been raised in a long time. The situation has become unbearable which is why immediate action is required. The costs for keeping a bus operational keep rising every day. Spare parts are not the only thing that have become more expensive. The prices of tires, motor oil, batteries and repairs have also gone up drastically. We also have to pay high insurance costs and other expenses. Despite these developments the bus fares have remained on the same level which is why we hardly make any profit and even suffer financial losses. “We want to keep serving the nation but that is only possible if we are allowed to operate with bus fares that are in accordance with the current tariffs on the market”, said a bus owner who added that many of his colleagues can’t afford to pay for maintenance but that safe public transportation depends on proper maintenance for buses. If the bus fares are not raised, the bus owners fear that they will have no other choice than to keep their buses in the garage. Once that happens, thousands of people who depend on public transportation will be left stranded. The bus owners hope that the government will invite them to a meeting soon so that they can talk about finding a structural solution.