At the traffic lights today, the driver announced in a loud voice to our very full Link bus that all Stagecoach prices will be increasing from Sunday. The Link bus will now cost $1.30, rather than $1.20.

In a loud voice, I called back:

“Will the service improve accordingly? Will Link buses start actually turning up every 10 minutes like it falsely claims on the side of every bus? Will the extra revenue go towards repairs so we can get out of the back door of the bus rather than have to climb over people boarding the bus to escape? Will John O’Leary get new scripts so that we don’t have to hear the same messages about alighting here for Govenor Hobson’s Grave? Will those flash automated GPS signs that tell you how long you have to wait for your next bus ever be completed? If so – then I’m all in favour of the price hike. If not, then may I point out that I’m already being overcharged on a daily basis for the overwhelming lack of public transport service, and Stagecoach can go to hell…”

Actually I didn’t say that – but I thought of it later, and kicked myself. That would have been dead cool.

As I was about to post this, a colleague informed me that this was all over the telly news the other night. Concession cards will be cheaper, but other prices are going way up. I must watch that telly thing more often. Sounds like a fascinating source of socially relevant information and intellectual engagement.