Londoners need free public transport to reduce inequality and get polluting cars off the road, Transport for London (TfL) has been told.
The capital’s Tube network is already considered the most expensive of any major global city, with fares set to rise above inflation until 2030.
This has prompted concerns that ordinary Londoners are avoiding Tube travel into London to save on soaring costs, potentially increasing the number of vehicles on the road.
Earlier this month, the House of Commons Transport Committee proposed that everyone aged under 22 in England should be given free bus passes to help them get into work and education.
Now, campaign groups including Fare Free London have urged their regional authorities and the national government to extend this proposal to all age groups on all forms of public transport.
READ MORE: Rail campaigners say potential 5.5% fares rise would be ‘ripping off’ passengers
The group say that a complete restructure of TfL is needed, but that capital cities like Tallinn in Estonia and Belgrade in Serbia have shown it is possible.
Simon Pirani, who sits on the organising group of Fare Free London, said free public transport in London would stimulate the economy, reduce inequality and social isolation, and assist with reducing car usage.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “In London, the high level of fares is hitting people across all age groups in terms of being able to travel to find work, travelling to and from work and in terms of social isolation.
“We need a complete rethink about how the transport system is paid for.
“London has a much better transport system compared to other UK cities, but it’s very expensive.
“Our findings show that low-paid employees are now taking longer journeys on the bus in London to avoid paying higher tube and rail fares, spending huge amount of time travelling.
“Others can’t afford to take their children to museums or free events on the weekend.
“These high fares are exacerbating social inequality in London – the entire situation must be reviewed.
“We know it’s possible to make public transport free in the way parks and the NHS are free at the point of use – it’s possible to organise things that way.”
He also claimed the high cost of public transport undermined the Mayor of London’s efforts to reduce pollution from cars in the capital.
In recent days, critics have warned that TfL’s proposals to raise the Congestion Charge from £15 to £18 and no longer exempt electric vehicles could see more Londoners turning to petrol and diesel to get around.
Mr Pirani said: “Free public transport also supports efforts to combat climate change.
“If we want to get cars off the road like the Mayor wants to, free public transport would be a major help in doing that.
The group’s calls were backed up by Caroline Russell, who leads the Green Party group on the London Assembly.
She told the LDRS: “Bus free travel for under-22s only scratches the surface. London’s public transport fares remain among the highest in Europe, and no one, no matter their age should have to choose between paying rent or tapping their Oyster.
“High fares and patchy public transport not only deepen inequality but also keep people trapped in car ownership, worsening congestion, pollution and road danger.”
“We need a transport system that is truly affordable and accessible for everyone, especially the city’s most precarious workers and people seeking asylum.
“If the government brought forward a viable, long-term funding model to make public transport free for everyone, that’s a call I would absolutely support.”
Transport for London (TfL) say they are mostly funded by passenger fares, compared to other countries which receive larger subsidies from central government.
Certain groups are eligible for discounted public transport, including those over 60 , children under 18, students, disabled people and jobseekers.
A TfL spokesperson told the LDRS: “The Mayor will set out what happens with fares, but the Government has been clear that the funding in the settlement is provided against an assumed scenario that overall TfL fares will rise by the value of RPI+1 for each year of the settlement.”
