A bus trip around the city costs 5.50, less than 50 cents. However, considering how hard people work to earn even 10 pesos and how many people rely on the bus for transportation (so many that there are nearly as many people standing, crammed in the aisles, as sitting), this is a fair cost.
However, there is a movement to increase the fare nearly 70% to 8 pesos. This is an extraordinary and impossible increase. My hope is that this is like bargaining for goods here. People start higher (sometimes way higher) than they know the outcome will be.
Regardless, I continue to be impressed by the metaphors Mexicans use. The pulpo (octopus) here is eye-catching and appropriate for the connection to the number eight.
