Mayor is hitting low income Londoners hardest with his 2010 fare package - Caroline Pidgeon

5.10.00pm GMT Thu 31st Dec 2009

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commenting on the steep fare rises that the Mayor is imposing on London transport services for 2010 said:

"For the second year in a row the Mayor is punishing Londoners with an inflation busting increase in fares. Incredibly even a short bus journey involving just one change will set people back £2.40.

"Boris Johnson boasts about freezing his share of the council tax bill, but his continual hiking up of fares means he is taking significantly more from the wallets and purses of hard up Londoners."

"Most significantly by hiking up some bus fares by a staggering 20% he is ensuring that low income Londoners pay the greatest price for his mistaken policies."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Regulated train fares for 2010 will be cut by 0.4% across the UK.

2. Bus, tube and tram fares were increased by Boris Johnson by an average of 6% for 2009. Cash fares were increased by 11%