Travelers may be feeling the pinch as early as this coming Friday. Due to the uncertainty over the government's public transportation subsidy program, in addition to the rising oil prices, long distance bus operators including U-bus, Aloha, and Kuokuang are planning to implement a fare increase on selected routes.

This sign announces a ticket price hike of 10 NT to 40 NT as of May 1st. Due to rising global fuel prices, long-haul bus operators had planned on raising ticket prices earlier this month.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications then announced subsidies for bus operators, but the companies decided to go ahead with hikes after the government failed to produce a concrete timetable.

According to the Directorate General of Highways, adjusted bus ticket prices are still within "market mechanism range," and its hands will be tied if the subsidy plan is passed and bus companies don't lower ticket prices.

In response, bus operators say that they will consider adjusting prices accordingly if they receive fuel subsidies.

The industry is expected to roll out price hikes between this Friday and May 1st.