Watchdog urges Mayor to keep bus fares low following new TfL funding agreement

04 November 2020

As the ink dries on TfL’s new funding deal with the Government, London TravelWatch has called for the Mayor of London to keep bus fares as low as possible in January to ensure that bus travel is still affordable for the millions of Londoners who rely on it.

London TravelWatch accept that fares in London overall will rise by RPI+1 in January but in a letter to the Mayor it has highlighted the fact that lower income Londoners are particularly reliant on the bus to get around. The watchdog also pointed out that not everyone has a job where they can work at home so it is important that there is still an affordable mode of transport available for those who need it.

London TravelWatch Director, Emma Gibson commented: ‘Our research shows that people who only use the bus are more likely to choose their route because of cost, and will probably be earning less than £1,750 per month*. Cost is also a specific barrier to black and ethnic minority Londoners, who as a result tend to use buses more often**. Those on lower incomes, often doing the jobs that many for us take for granted like cleaning or caring stand to lose out the most from these fares rises, despite the fact that they have done so much to keep the capital going over the past seven months. We want to see this recognised by keeping bus fares affordable when the fares rise in the new year.’

 
Notes to editors

  1. London TravelWatch is the operating name for the London Transport Users Committee. We are the official watchdog representing the interests of transport users in and around London, and independent of the transport operators and government. London TravelWatch is sponsored and funded by the London Assembly, part of the Greater London Authority.
  2. * London Travelwatch, Living on the edge, 2015, p3
  3. ** Centre for London report, Fair access: Towards a transport system for everyone, 2019, p69
  4. For more information, please contact the London TravelWatch press office on 020 3176 5941 or 07734 055494.
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