CAN anyone explain how First buses have got away with it?

The excellent Reliance Bus Service charges £1.90 to take rural passengers 12 miles into York from outlying villages, on immaculate buses with smart, friendly drivers and I have not yet known them to be more than a minute late.

Once in York, it costs £1.50 for a five-minute journey on frequently unkempt buses, running on a seemingly random timetable and with some drivers who clearly wish they were somewhere else.

Reliance has not put up its prices and, if forced to, it would be a small increase.

Sensibly, it realises buses need all the passengers they can get to make a service work. This parallel makes a mockery out of First's protestations of increased diesel charges/staff costs etc.

More worryingly, how was this crazy fare hike allowed to happen by a city which used to be praised for its green transport initiatives - £3 to move half-a-mile and back?

York is driving people into their cars quicker than you can say: "I don't think we'll go into York today dear. The roads are busy and the buses are so expensive. And it's near impossible to cycle any more. Cough... wheeze... cough..."

Vicki Hill,

Main Street,

Stillington, York.

Updated: 10:19 Thursday, January 12, 2006