please empty your brain below
Will you be doing an article on the Streetspace plan? I'd really value your opinion on it.
But I fear this isn't from necessity but spite. '24/7' access for us Freedom Pass holders has a Johnson element from when he was Mayor of London. Now, because he's no longer interested in Londoners, he can safely (indirectly) remove it.
As long as TfL is legally required to have a 'balanced budget', it will always be at the mercy of grasping politicians, who over-ride TfL's operational purpose, which isn't to make money but to serve London, Londoners and our visitors.
In neo-classical economics, transport is an instrument of derived demand, ie it exists to serve a further purpose. Those who benefit most from transport do not pay a fair share for the capacity it grants to run their businesses; loading the funding of transport on its captive market passengers is a corruption of economics.
This is vindictiveness writ large because London didn't elect a Tory mayor when Johnson moved on.
The inflation rate later in the year may be different, but even if rounded up to 5p and 10p it's hardly bank-breaking.
hard to argue about increased fares when we're getting a bailout from central government
The bailout is a grant of around £1.1 billion and a loan of around £500 million. Even so, it seems a bit strange for a local authority's deficit to be funded in part by a loan from central government on harsher terms than the loans being made by the government to private businesses. The government is not demanding that other businesses increase prices, or put government representatives on the management boards.
And if TfL want to raise income long term a good place to look would be the Over 60s Oyster. There is no good reason why people in work, of working age, should get free transport ahead of any other age group. Some will see scrapping it as a vote loser. I suspect it would be a huge vote winner myself
I expect to see inflation busting increases in Zone 1 dressed up as encouraging people to walk or cycle.
Maybe a significant increase in daily and weekly caps as well.
The headline will be 1% above inflation but as ever the devil will be in the detail...
promotion of blah, blah, blah is just that, a review of..... is just to give the illusion of activity.
It’s also very handy for a fare rise to help TfL’s future budget without Sadiq going back on an election commitment.
For most of the rest of us it's not given until state pension age, and then only for use after 9/9.30/10am.
It's a nonsense that working people who happen to be over 60 have, until now, got free transport. I think that most younger people would not expect people over 60 in city or professional jobs (so probably earning several times what they are) to get free transport subsidised by them.
"The new scheme fulfils the Mayor Boris Johnson’s pledge to bridge the gap for older Londoners since the age of eligibility for the London Council’s Freedom Pass was raised by the Government."
Equally worrying is the free travel for kids - more money for us to find!
1 - Under the Transport Act 2008 the minimum hours of Concession Pass validity are from 0930 M-F and all day Sat-Sun-public holidays. It's up to the issuing authority whether those hours are extended, or the modes of transport are widened. What hours specifically will be barred to Pass holders? Does 'peaks' include the pm 'rush' in which case it is illegal (unless a quick amendment to the Act looms).
2 - This cutback also applies to people living outside London. There is no cash alternative on London Buses - no contactless, no other pass or Oyster, no travel - vulnerable people may be stranded.
3 - A lot of supermarkets have special early hours access for older people; they/we may be able to walk to a supermarket but not come back on foot once laden with shopping.
4 - Johnson was elected as London Mayor on a promise of retaining 24/7 use of the Pass, and now he yet again has reneged, even if indirectly through his government, on a promise. Times may have changed but that does not allow a dishonorable act.
I'm trying to set my personal interest aside but this is more lack of big picture actions.
Blue Witch, I'd suggest that in future you might want to do some research before making a silly claim like this one.
In Scotland,the Scotland-wide free bus pass scheme allows anyone aged over 60 and eligible disabled people who live in Scotland, to travel free on all bus services within Scotland.
I'd guess that there are other places in the UK that give free public transport to over 60s...
dg writes: Perhaps you should have done your research.
Just to balance this claim, there are plenty of places in the UK where the public transport fares are considerably less than TFL's (and with none of the peak/off-peak nonsense either).
As an example, in Edinburgh, a single bus fare with Lothian Transport is £1.80 for any distance.
dg writes: £1.80 > £1.50.
I consider 'the country' to be England (but isn't Scotland only bus anyway?). Merseyside has peak hour restrictions.
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