“I will…put the commuter first” Boris Johnson 2008 Travel Manifesto
The day after thousands of people pay for the train home from New Years Eve parties across London for the first time since 2003, those relying on public transport will be hit with another nasty shock. Their fares are increasing. Again.
In Johnson’s 2008 Travel Manifesto he pledged to put the commuter first, his goal was to make sure that our transport system improved our quality of life. As time has gone on we have begun to see that when Boris said ‘commuter’ what he actually meant was car driver.
There will be a 10.5%-18.2% increase in tube fares paid for with an oyster and a whopping 20% increase to bus journeys paid for with an oyster. It is of note that people on lower incomes tend to use the buses.
Boris claims that these increases and the cancelled free transport on New Years Eve stem from a black hole in the TfL budget. However he seems to have no worries about the revenue that will be lost from scrapping the Western extension of the Congestion Charge. When the costs of this escapade were put to the Mayor he had the nerve to talk of “abundant” economies being available to offset the annual loss of £55m-£70m.
The Mayor can’t have it both ways: either there are abundant economies, in which case the need to raise fees to create excess revenue seems questionable. Alternatively there is a black hole to be filled and the GLA can’t afford to spare a single penny; if this is the case then how can the Mayor justify scrapping the western extension that would bring in tens of millions and encourage Londoners to use more sustainable public transport?
