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Bexley + London-wide stories

The Mayor hits the wallets and purses of millions of Londoners

15 October 2009 - 9:34pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commenting on the Mayor’s fare package for 2010 which is hiking up tube and bus fares and cutting bus and tube services in outer London, 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.

"People in outer London will be particularly aggrieved to be paying even more for a poorer service.

Dial-a-Ride fails disabled people across London

28 September 2009 - 9:55pm — Administrator

Disabled and elderly people across the whole of London have faced a growing number of refused trips from Transport for London’s Dial-a-Ride service.

Following extensive questioning by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, the Mayor has been forced to release figures showing that over the last two years there has been more than a 50% increase in the number of trips refused to disabled and elderly people who rely on the Dial-a-Ride service.

Commenting on the figures, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“Three years ago Transport for London promised disabled Londoners a far better deal from Dial-a-Ride. They specifically promised that the number of refused trips would halve in just two years. Yet instead of falling the number of refused trips have actually gone up by more than 50%. It is simply appalling every day of the year more than 400 trips are now refused to Dial-a-Ride users.

Boris must stop dithering on fares

9 September 2009 - 9:47pm — Administrator

At today's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, criticised Boris Johnson's repeated evasiveness in answering questions about 2010 transport fares in 2010, saying:

"This time last year the Mayor had already told Londoners what the fares package would be for 2009. Now a year later the Mayor seems incapable of even saying when a decision will be announced for fares in 2010. Why is the Mayor dithering on fares?

Lib Dems highlight risks to public as bus CCTV footage is destroyed

4 September 2009 - 8:37pm — Administrator

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, have been alarmed to discover that CCTV footage on buses is only kept for one week. After being contacted by a constituent who was allegedly assaulted by a driver on a 42 bus, Simon was shocked to discover the Transport for London and East Thames Buses had no record of the incident because CCTV footage had been destroyed.

Mayor must freeze fares for 2010

18 August 2009 - 8:41pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, commenting on today’s July inflation figures, which are used as the basis of future fare rises said:

“With prices falling by minus 1.4% in July the Mayor should not hesitate to announce that bus, tube and tram fares will at least be frozen in 2010.

Caroline welcomes TfL head's bonus sacrifice

6 August 2009 - 9:40pm — Administrator

The Evening Standard has covered the story of TfL commissioner Peter Hendy's decision to accept only 45% of his annual bonus.

Caroline Pidgeon told the Standard:

I welcome Peter's decision and would welcome the Mayor to review TfL's bonus policy in general. He has been critical of the bonuses bankers have received.

The full story is here on the thisislondon.co.uk website.

Bitter blow for suburban rail passengers over Oyster

19 June 2009 - 10:26pm — Administrator

The BBC website covers the Mayor's failure to guarantee that when passengers are able to use Oyster pay-as-you-go on suburban rail services, they can be confident of paying no more than they would for the same journey by Tube.

Caroline Pidgeon described this as "a bitter blow to rail travellers in London".

The full story is here.

The London Paper also quotes Caroline in this article.

If you can use Oyster today, why not every day?

10 June 2009 - 9:00pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on the temporary extension of Oyster Pay as You Go to most train services across London, said:

“If Oyster Pay As You Go can cover most train services in London for 48 hours, why not everyday? Londoners have today been given a glimpse of what should already be a reality each and every day of the year.

Mayor's legacy of broken promises on Oyster

22 May 2009 - 11:08pm — Administrator

In his first year of office Boris Johnson has broken numerous promises he made to Londoners to improve rail services and has overseen huge delays in extending Oyster to overground train services, says Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson.

Commenting further, Caroline said:
"A year ago Boris Johnson promised to champion the cause of rail passengers by negotiating with Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and delivering Oyster to all overground stations within a year.

Caroline Pidgeon highlights TfL neglect of pedestrian crossings

15 May 2009 - 10:17pm — Administrator

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, has revealed that one in five pedestrian crossings in London do not give people enough time to cross the road.

The figures, which had to be obtained by a Freedom of Information inquiry, show 472 crossings do not comply with the minimum timings guidelines from the Department of Transport. These crossings do not provide enough time between the green man light disappearing and the amber light appearing for motorists.