18 August 2021
Commenting on the announcement of July’s RPI figure and the likelihood that Londoners will face fares increases of almost 5%, Emma Gibson, Director of London TravelWatch said:
‘Fares in London need to be affordable if people are to be tempted back to public transport and out of their cars. Many Londoners have already suffered financially as a result of the pandemic so a 4.8% fares increase is the last thing they will want to see. It is especially important that bus fares are kept low, as buses are most used by lower income Londoners and key workers who have kept London going throughout the pandemic and are often not able to work from home, while 27% of Londoners are living in poverty, one of the highest levels in the UK. A fully laden bus can also take up to 75 cars off the road and make a real contribution towards cutting congestion, improving air quality and decarbonising transport.’