Like more than the million of New Yorkers who rely on the subways and the busses to get to and from work, Dian Aris and Andre' Persaud are up in arms.

Their anger is aimed at the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) for its doomsday plan to hike fares to an astronomical $2.50 a ride, up from the current $2.

"I don't understand, the service is already poor and getting worse, and they are planning to hike the fare at a time when people are worried about their jobs," said Aris, a Caribbean immigrant. "It's just not fair. I don't care who is at fault, whether it is the MTA or the politicians in Albany. It's just not right."

Persaud feels the same way.

"The fares and the quality are traveling in two different directions," he said. "The cost of a ride is going up but the quality of the service is falling and the MTA wants us to believe that it is all Albany's fault. The MTA runs the subways and the buses, not the legislators. It may be that the legislators in Albany need to look at the MTA and see why there is a need for these regular hikes."

While many of the major news organizations and MTA officials were quick to demonize the State Assembly and the Senate for failing to come up with a $1 billion plus bailout financial plan for the MTA that would prevent fares from skyrocketing to such astronomical levels, the average rider knows one thing: the proposed hikes couldn't have come at a worse time.

"People are scared of losing their jobs," Aris complained. "Those who have already lost their jobs must find money to ride the subways or the buses to find other employment. And what is the MTA doing? It is planning to raise fares," Aris said.

Persaud, who spends $84 monthly to get to work, shared that view. "The proposed hikes can't be justified by any means," said the airline worker. "But no one seems to be listening, especially the people at the MTA. All we are hearing about is the Ravitch plan or the State senate plan, but we are not hearing anything about the poor rider's plan. Not a word."

Dr. Roy Hastick, president of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, opposes the steep hikes for a different reason. "There is bound to be some fall-out for businesses which rely on customers coming through the door to shop or to buy services and if the fares go up there is bound to be a reduction in traffic coming into stores and place of business," Hastick said. "Our members in the Chamber are expecting to feel the fall-out from such steep increases. Yes, the MTA may need an increase in revenue to balance its books and to improve service, but what is being proposed is going to hit consumers and business owners alike. How can you justify such increases?"

To the transit riders and business executives, especially those who own or operate small enterprises, pointing the finger of blame isn't the crucial issue. For them, providing efficient service and avoiding the planned increases are the top priorities.

"Our main concern is the impact on business," said Hastick.

Chuck Mohan, president of the Guyana-American Workers United, takes a different stand. As he sees it, the blame must be placed squarely at the door step of the MTA. "It's like a game," he complained. "Whenever the MTA has to negotiate a new contract we hear how poor the MTA is and that a lot of money is needed to keep the trains and buses running. But when everything is over, we hear about surpluses at the MTA. What's really needed is a thorough examination of the agency's books, just like what happened a few years ago after the transit strike. When the audit was done by the Office of the City Comptroller we found out that the agency was keeping two sets of books and in fact it had surplus instead of a deficit. How are we to know that the same thing isn't happening this time around?" Mohan said.

That's a question State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith wants answered and his request for forensic audit may be the roadblock to a bailout plan. "I think we need such an audit," insists Mohan.

Murlin Michael, a Brooklyn resident and retired seamstress, doesn't get into such fine points. "I don't know about the audit. What I do know is that it is going to adversely affect poor riders, the unemployed and persons on fixed incomes who have to rely on the trains and businesses to get around," she said.