Lothain Bus fare increases to £1.10, at least on the buses
Today saw Lothian Buses increase their adult single fare to £1.10, up from a £1. This is the first increase since March 2021. Welcomely the pricing of child fares, daysaver tickets and Ridacards is unaffected.
However I had some sympathy for commuters who were today asked to find an extra 10p - not always an easy task if someone has only prepared £1. Seemingly the only notification of the 10p hike was a sticker in the front window of all Lothian buses (see image above) and the bus drivers verbal communication.
The literature at each bus stop has not, at the time of writing, been updated. As the image on the above right shows, it still states £1 for an adult single. Also the automated ticket machines, a precursor to Edinburgh tram, are still charging £1 for an adult single. Until Lothian Buses correct this you can still pre-purchase your ticket for £1 before boarding the bus. And to round it off the Lothian Buses website hardly makes the price increase clear (it’s not displayed on the front page).
All in all a confusing Sunday for bus passengers, which could have been helped by better communication and some notification of the price rise at bus stops in Edinburgh. It’s not the fact the price has gone up, it’s more the inconvenience of many passengers only being told about the fare increase as they’re boarding the bus.
On Sunday, I was eavesdropping on 2 bus drivers chatting. One of them didn’t know about the price increase until they started their shift on Sunday morning. Guess it’s no surprise that the fare increase wasn’t advertised well to the public if Lothian don’t even communicate it to their own employees.
On the Sunday the prices changed, I got one bus in the morning for £1, and on the way back it had become £1.10.
I’d been looking at their website a few days previously to find out about the bus diversions, and nowhere was there a hint of the coming price rises.
Very bad communication from Lothian Buses!
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if you buy your bus ticket from the wee red machines at various bus stops its still £1. that is all.