| Boris' fare increases hit poor hardest |
| Tuesday, 12 January 2010 18:32 |
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Commuters are now expected to pay more for a worse service, thanks to Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s fare increases, cuts to services and the scrapping of planned improvement works. Fare rises, which came in on January 2nd, included a 20% rise in Oyster bus fares, a 12.5% rise in the Zone 1 Oyster tube fares, and a five-zone off-peak single Tube fare has increased a staggering 18.2%. Overall tube fares will rise 3.9%, whilst overall bus fares will rise by 12.7%. These unnecessary increases are way above inflation, which is around 1%. It is absurd and unjust that during a recession, the Mayor of London feels that it is right to increase fares which disproportionately affect the poorest members of our community. These increases will raise £125 million, but instead of reinvesting in the transport system, this money will fund the Mayor’s scrapping of the Western Congestion Charge Zone. This is evidence that Boris Johnson’s decision to increase fares is politically motivated and that he is just looking after the interests of the most privileged whilst making the poorest Londoners pay. The Mayor’s cuts mean there will be no improvements to the bus network and services on existing routes will be cut, and, most importantly, there will be no additional bus routes to or from Tooting. The bad news from Boris does not end there. Not only is Boris Johnson charging the people of Tooting more to travel, he has also scrapped plans for a new lift at Tooting Broadway tube station which Sadiq Khan MP and local residents have fought so hard for. Sadiq Khan MP said, “Mayor Johnson's axing of the lift at Tooting Broadway is really terrible news for wheelchair users and parents with young children trying to get to St George's Hospital." “The Mayor’s decision to raise fares is a matter of choice not necessity. The Tory Mayor is putting his rich supporters in Chelsea ahead of all Londoners and making us all – including the people of Tooting - pay for it. ” |
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