Cutting fraud will help cut transport fares.

2.06.55pm GMT Sun 30th Jan 2005

Transport campaigner Bridget Fox has reacted with concern to news that Ken Livingstone and Transport for London are proposing to introduce 'bendy buses' on route 38 through Islington, as ticket fraud issues on route 73 have still not been addressed.

Bridget says, "We already know that ticket fraud on buses and tubes costs honest Londoners over £80M a year - with fares rising above inflation on top. The bendy buses - with their open boarding and no ticket inspectors - are a crime scene on wheels. "

Last year an Evening Standard reporter spent 10 hours on the 73 route between Essex Road and Angel, Islington. Despite making 67 journeys he was not once asked to show his ticket. On at least three journeys the Oyster card machine was out of order. On five attempts to board at the front to show his ticket, the entry remained shut and he was told to use the other doors.

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show fare dodgers have clocked up more than 150 million journeys on London's public transport network since Mayor Ken Livingstone came to power.

Bridget and the Liberal Democrats are asking TfL to:

• re-think the inflation-busting fare rises • take action to stamp out fare evasion instead • get the smartcard readers working & have more bus conductors to help •double the penalty fare to discourage rip-off riders.