Transport for London has been urged to reconsider proposals to cut bus services in London with a warning they would be “counterproductive”.
London’s Evening Standard newspaper reports a public consultation on TfL’s proposals – which includes plans to axe bus 16 routes entirely – came to an end last week having received an “exceptionally high” number of responses.
But the London Assembly transport committee has called on TfL to rethink its proposals with Assembly Members left “unconvinced” over the potential savings that could result from cuts to services.
The Standard quotes Sian Berry, chair of the transport committee, as saying that an investigation into TfL’s plans revealed that cuts to bus services would have a “disproportionate impact” on low-income and disabled Londoners.
Ms Berry is quoted as saying: “The committee is concerned about the disproportionate impact of these proposals on the poorest Londoners. One third of all bus journeys are made by people in households earning less than £20,000 per year. We are also concerned about the disproportionate impact of the proposals on disabled Londoners, considering that 10 per cent of daytime bus passengers are disabled.
“Another longstanding concern is the extent to which a diverse range of transport users and user groups have been engaged during TfL consultations. It is clear that change in itself can be a barrier to using public transport for some disabled people if they have built up their confidence around using a particular journey.”
(Picture – Highways News)
