Students and workers from various sectors of João Pessoa will hold this Tuesday (7) the Ato Tranca Rua, in protest against the increase in bus fares in the city. The gathering will take place at Praça da Paz, in the Bancários neighborhood, starting at 3 pm.
Last Friday (3), the Municipal Council for Urban Mobility of João Pessoa approved an increase of R$ 0.30 in fares. After approval by Mayor Cícero Lucena, the new price of R$ 4.70 started to be valid this Sunday (5).
The mobilization is being organized by the autonomous student movement, Ocupa UFPB, and aims to call on the population to demand the cancellation of the tariff increase and the return of integration via the terminal. “In this act, in addition to the value, we will discuss and raise other guidelines as well, such as free pass, dual role of drivers, canceled routes and reduced fleets, the lack of accessibility and the bus schedule”, clarify the organizers.
Workers waiting for buses at peak hours (17:30) in the Capital Center / Print -Video social networks
Crowded buses, insufficient fleet and insecurity
Most students and workers complain about the absence of fleets that were reduced in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic and were not replaced, which resulted in overcrowding and harmed, mainly, those who study the night shift.
The Movimento Ocupa UFPB also points out that, in a current scenario, with an increase in unemployment and poverty, any kind of increase is absurd.
Rita Lira, a member of Ocupa UFPB and a graduate student in Geography at the university, comments that the increase in the fare affects and impacts the worker’s pocket, compromising their monthly budget between 15% and 17% of their salary. “The increase in the worker’s pocket just because of those thirty cents is absurd. This money was supposed to be used in health, education and leisure for the worker, but it’s going to the pockets of the big companies”, points out the student.
Students complain about the reduced fleet on social networks / Print – Social Networks
In the decree signed and published in the Official Gazette last Friday (3), Mayor Cícero Lucena stated that “the council’s decision was based on studies carried out by the Semob-JP technical team about the amount necessary to restore economic balance – of the concession contracts for public urban passenger transport services”.
Odara Moraes, organizer of Ato Tranca Rua and student of the Psychology course at UFPB, recalls that in a short time of management the mayor has already approved two increases in bus fares and that, João Pessoa, is the Capital with the second most expensive ticket in the North East.
“It is an act to guide the right to public transport, which is constitutional, because we are in a reality where transport is scrapped, where fleets have been reduced since the pandemic, in a reality where drivers earn a salary for two functions, where we have no integration system, we are overcrowded, anyway. We need to demand improvements and structural conditions on the buses of João Pessoa. In a span of one year, this management voted and approved two increases in fares, so we need to question: is this management really on the side of students and workers?”, asks the student.
Source: BdF Paraíba
Edition: Cida Alves
