Angry commuters are considering renting a minibus to travel to work in a boycott against a ferry route’s 100 percent fare increase.Users of the pink ferry route are “very disappointed” that plans to double the cost of a ticket have now been finalised.They have accused Government of being “dictators” for ignoring their concerns and ploughing ahead with the price increase.The Paget/Warwick fare increase from $2.50 to $5 a ticket will come into effect on November 1 more than three months after the idea was first mooted in the House of Assembly.About 200 passengers signed a petition against the price increase and a group of commuters even took the time to discuss their concerns with Transport Minister Terry Lister in person.Commuter Debra Saltus said: “We’re all very disappointed. Government is doing itself a very serious injustice.“We are talking about boycotting the ferry. The ridership is really going to drop, that’s going to be the ripple effect.“A group of us may get together and share the car ride into Hamilton. It only costs $5 a day to park on the top of Bull’s Head.“We’ve also talked about renting a minibus, we think between us that would also probably be cheaper.”Mr Lister told the House of Assembly in July that the ferry route had been plagued by low ridership and that it cost Government more than $1 million a year to provide seven-day and holiday service.But Ms Saltus does not believe the pink route is losing money and blamed Government for “mismanaging funds” then “taking it out on us during a recession when many people’s salaries are frozen.”She said many commuters could not afford the extra cost and had previously suggested a smaller increase of up to about a dollar would be more reasonable.Talking about Government, Ms Saltus said: “I think they are dictators. They are doing whatever they want to do.“They are not listening to the people. They depend on our vote but they are just doing what they like.“I just hope people think twice when they go to the polls.”The Ministry of Transport initially said the increase would begin on August 1 but then a last-minute postponement was announced without a reason being given.The commuters started a petition, which stated that the price increase is “extremely unfair” for the shortest journey in the ferry timetable and called on Government to review the price and frequency of services. It went on to say that without a rethink, the passengers will “have no choice but to cease using the service.”Ms Saltus and other commuters first met Marine and Ports director Francis Richardson after Mr Lister failed to show up to the meeting.Then the day after The Royal Gazette published a front-page story about residents’ concerns, Mr Lister had a change of heart and agreed to meet them.Ms Saltus said: “He met us, but just did it to appease us, he was just trying to keep us quiet.“He was always going to do this. We even came up with different thoughts on how they could increase revenue, but he didn’t listen.“He should have had the common courtesy to tell us back then what was happening.”Ms Saltus said many of the commuters on the pink route were talking about the price increase, saying: “There’s not a good vibe.”She said: “It’s not just me, there are a lot of unhappy people.“Everyone is complaining and talking about a boycott. It’s just going to make people drive into Hamilton.“Whatever happened to Government encouraging us to use public transport?”The new prices mean that regular ferry tokens will no longer be accepted on the route and special tokens will have to be purchased. However students and senior citizens will be able to travel free with the relevant travel pass.A monthly pass will increase from $55 to $110 and a quarterly pass from $135 to $270.Ms Saltus has been using the ferry since 1986 and has a quarterly pass, which runs out at the end of the year.She said: “They sold me this pass, so I should be able to use it until it runs out.”The Ministry of Transport issued a press release yesterday that said: “Commencing 1st November, 2011 the Pink Route Paget/Warwick ferry fare structure will change.“As of 1st November, 2011, current fare, including 3 and 14 zone tickets are no longer valid on the Pink Route.“Persons who have purchased monthly passes in advance for the month of November or beyond can exchange for the new pass by paying the fare difference. There will be no refunds.”The press release did not include the reason for the decision or any mention on of the reasoning behind the three-month delay.The Royal Gazette sent a series of questions about the price-hike to Mr Lister yesterday but he did not respond by press time.