Haringey Green Party argues for flat fares across London

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on January 7, 2016 at 10:17

and of course for those on lower incomes the proportion is even higher.

Yes. Caroline Pidgeon (LD candidate for mayor) was on R4 this morning explaining the LD policy for half-price fares before 07:30. This would particularly benefit the less well paid and also help to spread out the load.

She also set out clearly how it would be paid for. Not all parties cost their proposals.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on January 7, 2016 at 14:01

The key point is net benefit.

There may well be an increase in use at around 7:20, but there's already overcrowding at peak time.

The effect of this realistic, well-though through plan would be reduce the height of the peak and spread out the overall load, for net advantage.

Public transport tends to be geared to meeting peak demand: which is normally inefficient. Anything that can be done to soften those peaks (typically, twice a day) makes economic sense.

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on January 7, 2016 at 16:19

I'm not convinced about the benefit to the pockets of lower paid workers by having cheap fares before 7:30. Some of the lowest paid jobs are shop work (9am opening usually) and those in the restaurant trade (even later opening and closing times) so I can't see it impacting on those people. As Martina says, those with kids to get to school wouldn't benefit at all and those lucky enough to work flexi time (who tend not to be in low paid work) could potentially benefit hugely.

Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on January 7, 2016 at 17:03

The Liberal Democrat Party argue for half-price fares before 7:30 AM:

1. The DLR, Tube, Tramlink and London Overground all start running from soon after 5 AM
2. Therefore, the policy of half-price travel applying for all TfL rail services for people using Oyster PAYG and Contactless Payment for any journey starting before 7:30 AM, would offer half-price travel for between 2 to 2.5  hours each morning
3. Some people would bring forward their journeys and travel earlier - this is a good thing
4. The Tube in particular is overcrowded at rush hour. Delays due to overcrowding are growing:
5. London Standard article: Tube delays due to overcrowding hit five-year high, new figures show
   
6. If some people brought forward their journeys, that would help reduce overcrowding at rush hour
7. Many of London’s lowest-paid people already travel early, for example office cleaners. Half-price travel before 7.30 AM would directly help many of London’s lowest-paid workers

CDC
Haringey Councillor
Liberal Democrat Party

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