Mayor needs to explain fare rises

Feb 4 2010

THE fare-paying Londoner will be only too aware this week of the huge fare rises which Mayor Boris Johnson has now inflicted on the travelling public, especially those who prefer to use the bus network to get around.

Our buses have become a reliable and affordable way to get around, but people who want or need to travel in this way are now feeling the pinch of a huge 20 per cent fare increase.

A pay as-you-go Oyster journey now costs £1.20, while the cost of a weekly bus pass has also gone up 20 per cent to £16.60.

The mayor claims this is necessary to raise funds for Transport for London, yet he has dropped plans for a western extension to the congestion charge zone, and plans to charge the most polluting vehicles to enter Central London.

Both these measures would have generated income, as well as having environmental benefits, but the mayor has chosen to penalise Londoners who rely on public transport to get around.

Mayor Johnson needs to explain why he is doing this.

MURAD QURESHI

Labour Group London Assembly