Ferry boycotters are to reach out to new Transport Minister Derrick Burgess in the hope that he will be more sympathetic to their concerns.The group of commuters, who have been driving to work since the pink ferry route’s 100 percent fare increase, are hoping to win the support of Mr Burgess.They turned their backs on the ferry service at the start of the month when former Transport Minister Terry Lister, who was axed in the Cabinet reshuffle, doubled the cost of the Paget/Warwick fare from $2.50 to $5.The two-week boycott is understood to have resulted in a reduction of about 50 percent of passengers on the morning and afternoon commuter services.It comes as the One Bermuda Alliance repeats its criticism of “the inept manner in which the fare increases have been foisted upon the commuters”.Commuter Debra Saltus said they would be getting in touch with Mr Burgess to ask him to reconsider the fare increase.She said: “We are seeking the support of the new Minister in the hope that he will get things done.“We remain hopeful that he will be a little more open-minded and sympathetic to the people.“We’ve heard he (Mr Burgess) is a listener and a doer so we remain optimistic for the time being.”Ms Saltus, who paid for a quarterly pass for travel until the end of the year, has been among those commuters driving to work since November 1.She hopes to set up a carpooling scheme with about four other former ferry commuters so they can ease the burden and take it in turns to drive to work.Some people are also driving out of their way to catch the ferry from Rockaway in Southampton, as they can use their regular ferry passes on that ferry route.The commuters say they have had “a lot of support” from the public since their plight was highlighted in The Royal Gazette, including “lots of encouragement from the most staunch Government supporters”.Ms Saltus said: “Ridership on the ferry is still very low, there are less than half the usual amount of passengers.“It’s gone from 80 to 100 passengers to only about 30 people. And most of those who continue to use the ferry are expatriates who probably get a travel allowance.“They should have just increased ferry fares by about a dollar across the board then they would be making money rather than losing out.”The commuters previously accused Mr Lister of “messing it all up” by ignoring their concerns and a petition signed by about 200 people.Mr Lister told the House of Assembly back 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.The Ministry of Transport initially said the increase would begin on August 1 but it was postponed until November 1 without a reason being given.The new prices mean that regular ferry tokens are no longer accepted on the route and special tokens have to be purchased. A monthly pass has increased from $55 to $110 and a quarterly pass from $135 to $270.Ms Saltus is the first to admit that she “hates driving” and would much rather travel to and from work by ferry.She now leaves her home in Warwick by 7.40am to be at her bank job by 8.30am and says the traffic “moves at a snail’s pace”.Ms Saltus, who had used the ferry since 1986, said: “It’s now a journey that takes a long time. I sit in traffic and think to myself ‘it only takes ten minutes to cross the Harbour’.“It is frustrating, and I do miss the ferry, it was my mode of transport for many years.”She added: “But I’m not getting back on the ferry. I can’t afford to catch the ferry anymore.”Shadow Transport Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin said: “We do believe that management of the entire ferry system has been lacking, thereby resulting in the shortest and most economically run route being subjected to 100 percent fare increases.“The fact that commuters are boycotting the service speaks volumes as to the inept manner in which the fare increases have been foisted upon the commuters.“The former Minister indicated that the commuters had agreed to the fare increase, but in speaking with the commuters, we found that statement to be incorrect, as the only ones who apparently agreed to increases were the guest house proprietors on behalf of their visiting clientele.”Ms Gordon-Pamplin added: “An effective public transport service will minimise traffic congestion and the ensuing frustrations. We don’t understand why the Government does not get it.”Mr Burgess has not publicly spoken about the ferry fare increase since taking over at the Transport helm on November 2.The Ministry of Transport did not respond to our requests for comment yesterday. The Royal Gazette asked for the pink route’s passenger figures and whether Mr Burgess was willing to listen to the concerns of commuters.