A Lebanese taxi driver. (Credit: Joao Sousa/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — There are mixed reactions among bus and taxi drivers in Beirut following Thursday's announcement by Public Works Minister Ali Hamiyeh that new fare prices had been set, effective immediately. Later that day, taxi drivers blocked the Saifi-Gemmayze intersection in protest against the new rates, calling for "a reconsideration of the unfair fare rates and the formation of a committee to review them," according to the National News Agency.
However, bus and taxi drivers interviewed by L'Orient Today largely supported the new fare prices, taking into consideration passenger's expenditure power amid the economic crisis, but said they wanted to see the relative compensation for drivers — especially in the form of a pension.
On Thursday, Hamiyeh standardized the prices for bus and taxi services after meeting with Bassam Tlais, the head of the Federation and Unions of Land Transport in Lebanon. The new fares for minibusses within Beirut were set at LL75,000 per person and at LL150,000 for service rides, a system of shared taxi.
When asked if he thought the new prices were fair, the driver of a Number 4 bus yelled "Let the minister pay for the maintenance of our buses!" before pulling out into the traffic. The Number 4 bus runs on a route from Hamra to the southern suburbs of Beirut and currently costs LL 100,000.
In tandem with the new fares, Bassam Tlais issued a statement addressing the drivers of various forms of transport acknowledging the potential for errors in the new fare tables. "After five years without issuing the fare, it is very natural that some tables may contain some errors in distances, prices, and figures... Therefore, I confirm that this new fare is not a Quran or a Bible, and thus everything is open to discussion and amendment."
Ahmad Barakat, a taxi driver, is concerned about affordability. "LL200,000 is too expensive for passengers. Even at LL150,000, people can barely afford it. There should be a full transportation plan that would give pensions to public transport drivers, and this way they can set prices that are affordable," Barakat said.
A bus driver on the Hamra to Adliyeh route mentioned he currently charges LL 50,000 and finds it profitable. "LL75,000 would be a lot for the passengers," he said, suggesting that the new fare might be too high.
A passenger on the same bus, a student commuting from Chouf to Hamra to attend the American University of Beirut (AUB), expressed concerns about the increased costs. "If you come from a far place, raising the tariffs would be too expensive," the student said.
A van driver in Beirut said that while there's no hard feelings against the minister, he wants to see a full transport plan that includes fuel usage and pensions on the ministry's dime. "[Outgoing Prime Minister Najib] Mikati has promised us a pension plan for a long time but it hasn’t
happened yet. I think the minister is good, but one hand is not enough," he said.
Another taxi driver didn't see much a difference between service prices, but took note of other shortcomings in the Public Works Ministry's plan. “LL150,000 or LL200,000 are the same. This is what people can afford and it is more than enough but for us drivers, but the situation is tough."
"We want social security, we want affordable car insurance, health insurance, we feel for the people, but we need some help," he said.
Hassan al-Houjairi, who drives the number 12 van in Hamra, criticized the fare adjustments. "The minister lives in a different world. He should calculate the cost based on a study, not in this way," he said. Al-Houjairi currently charges LL80,000 but claims that LL 100,000 would be necessary for profitability. "But we cannot do that because the passengers would not be able to afford it," he explained.
Hassan Hamzeh, another van driver, sees potential benefits in the new fare if accompanied by broader reforms. "The fee is good if there is something in return, like making life more affordable for people. Also, if they just stopped the illegal vans and van drivers, we would get more passengers, and then it is affordable for us. Even LL50,000 would be good," Hamzeh said, referring to public transport vehicles that do not have public transport license plates approved by the ministry.
A passenger echoed Hamzeh's concerns about illegal vans. "Some of the vans are not safe and in poor conditions. They should not be allowed to operate," the passenger said. Despite this, they see how the standardized fare could be beneficial in standardizing prices across the board.
On Wednesday, a thirteen-year-old student, who was a resident of the Bab al-Ramel neighborhood of Tripoli, tragically lost her life after falling through a gap inside the school bus she regularly took home.
Since late 2019, Lebanon has been grappling with a severe economic crisis, impacting public transport. The Lebanese pound has lost over 90 percent of its value, causing hyperinflation and a steep rise in living costs. Fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices have made it difficult for bus and taxi drivers to operate profitably.
The government’s public transport infrastructure is underdeveloped and heavily reliant on private operators, who are struggling to cover maintenance costs and make a living wage. Hamiyeh's initiative to standardize fares aims to stabilize the sector, but the high cost of fuel and vehicle upkeep remains a challenge.
Passengers are also struggling with reduced incomes and rising costs for essential goods and services. Even standardized fares may be unaffordable for many, exacerbating the financial strain on both drivers and commuters.