Bus companies have been accused of “making a quick buck” and treating passengers “with contempt” after voting to put up fares by eight per cent.

The inflation-busting rise was attacked by Bradford Councillor Chris Greaves as he took his first meeting as chairman of the West Yorkshire transport authority, Metro. He criticised companies such as Arriva and First for insisting that travel card prices rise by more than eight per cent to account for the high price of oil.

That is despite the companies “hedging” their fuel – buying oil months ago, before costs soared, he said.

Councillor Greaves said: “They are using the current high prices as an excuse to impose another price rise on passengers.

“At a time when many people are feeling the pinch of rising prices at the petrol pump and are turning to public transport alternatives, the bus companies are looking to make a quick buck out of them on behalf of their shareholders.”

A spokesman for Arriva said that hedging fuel costs simply smoothes out the fluctuations of fuel prices and that those costs would be reflected in fares.

But Coun Greaves said: “Is it any wonder that fare-paying bus passenger numbers in West Yorkshire hit a new low last year when the bus companies use every opportunity to put up prices, while at the same time cutting services?”

The fare increases, effective from next month, will see an increase of more than eight per cent in the cost of a passenger MetroCard.

That will take the price of an adult, monthly bus MetroCard from £66.60 to £72 and a annual pass rising from £665.00 to £731.00 – a hike of £66.

Coun Greaves said: “Metro has a seat on the MetroCard ticketing company but it is just one voice and only had two votes out of 11 when the bus companies forced through the price rise.

“Bus operators should not be allowed to continue treating their customers, many of whom have no choice but to use buses, with this kind of contempt.”

He said he wanted to see Metro have greater control over West Yorkshire bus services including fares, frequencies of services and levels of quality provided Paul Adcock, operations director at Arriva Yorkshire, defended the price hikes.

He said: “Like any other road user, our fuel costs have risen significantly. The fact that we hedge our fuel costs simply smoothes out the fluctuations of fuel prices.

“Public transport operators ultimately can’t escape the impact of record rises in oil prices, and despite our best efforts and planning ahead, some of that increased cost will be reflected in fares.

“The Metrocard is a great initiative for people in West Yorkshire, giving wider, multi-operator travel options, which we fully support.

“We have a very positive, long-standing dialogue with Metro and will be continuing that dialogue with Councillor Greaves in his new role and with our other transport partners in West Yorkshire.”