Councillors demand better bus services for Islington (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Councillors demand better bus services for Islington

January 4, 2005 3:16 PM

Lib Dem Councillors Bridget Fox and Laura Willoughby are calling for better bus services for Islington in a motion to Full Council tomorrow evening (Wednesday 5th January).

Bridget says:

"Ken Livingstone has just raised bus fares over inflation. Livingstone tells Londoners that the rise is part of a package to raise £80M to improve services, but fare dodging on buses and tubes costs more than £83million a year. Investment in public transport is needed but surely cracking down on fare dodgers should come before making hard-pressed passengers pay more?"

Laura says:

"Buses services are vital to those who live and work in Islington, but their every day experience of them is severely lacking. Many of the new peak time buses are already full when they get here, so aren't of any use to local people. Bus drivers need more training to be courteous and helpful, particularly to disabled passengers, and Transport for London needs to make sure disabled ramps and facilities are working properly. Islington deserves better buses, not higher prices."

The Facts

1) Adult bus fares have rose to £1.20 on 2nd January

The motion to Council

BUSES IN ISLINGTON

Moved by Councillor Bridget Fox, seconded by Councillor Laura Willoughby

This Council believes that

bus services need to work for the people of Islington Islington is a bus-friendly borough buses are an important contribution to a sustainable transport system buses should be supported as part of an integrated policy for local transport needs buses need to be customer focused, with courteous and helpful bus drivers, to make bus travel attractive to passengers.

This Council notes with concern

that the Mayor of London is raising bus fares by £80 million that £80 million is lost through fare evasion each year that the new 'bendy buses' are conductorless and smart card readers often don't work, making revenue collection on them very difficult that many of the ramps on buses don't work properly, making accessibility for disabled passengers very difficult that many of the new bus services at peak times are already full when they reach the borough and so are not available to Islington workers and residents.

This Council calls on Transport for London and the Mayor of London to

re-think their over-inflation fare rise take action to increase revenue collection and stamp out fare evasion through better fare collection techniques and more ticket inspectors ensure ramps on buses are fully functional and bus drivers are fully trained to cater for disabled passengers needs make sure that bus drivers receive thorough training to be helpful and courteous to passengers and other road users.