South Yorkshire bus provider First Bus is increasing the prices of its bus fares next week, Mayor Oliver Coppard revealed on BBC Radio Sheffield on 28 Aug.
The mayor criticised the move, which would increase bus fare prices in Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster.
He explained that the company had dropped the news on them earlier in the week, giving no earlier warning that they had planned to raise bus fares starting next month, giving them no time to react.
The planned increase would add 30p to a student single fare, bringing it from £1.50 to £1.80, adding on to the existing cost of living crisis many young people, in particular students, are facing.
Mayor Coppard used this situation as an example of why franchising buses would be good for the city.
He said: “We have no control over that, they have just decided that’s the case but it is going to really affect young people in South Yorkshire.
“I understand private companies sometimes have to raise prices but you have to communicate it effectively, you have to give people the chance to understand what is happening”
South Yorkshire is currently in the process of franchising buses in the county, which would give Mayor Coppard more control over fares, timetables and routes.