taja Public backing for GMT
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GREATER Manchester Transport recently commissioned a research study carried out by Market and Opinion Research International (MORI) which concludes that in Manchester there is strong public condemnation of the minority who override on buses at the expense of full-fare paying passengers.
The survey is used by Greater Manchester Transport to illustrate public support for its proposed excess fares scheme which is the subject of a private Bill before Parliament.
The Bill would enable GMT to charge passengers caught over-riding five times the fare for the unpaid journey with a minimum of 50p.
Passengers caught will, if the Bill is successful, be given 21 days to pay the excess fare or else seek its cancellation by "submitting an adequate explanation to the executive."
The Greater Manchester initiative is being supported by the Confederation at British Road Passenger Transport (CPT) which believes that the findings of the Manchester survey are a fair indication of passenger opinion in Britain.
CPT director-general Denis Quin feels that the proposed system would save costs in court prosecution of fares offenders. Lost revenue will be made up if one offender in five is charged the excess fare.