Be 'Fare' to Hackney
The Council has agreed a motion resolving to oppose plans by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, for inflation busting bus fare hikes.
The increases, which will come into force from January, will raise the cost of a single pre paid Oyster bus journey from £1 to £1.20.
Over the course of a year, this mounts up to at least £263 for a household where two people go to work by bus. This is the equivalent of Hackney's share of the Council Tax rising by nearly 27 per cent.
Hackney will be hit harder than most other London boroughs, because bus usage is very high here, and car ownership lower than virtually anywhere else in the Capital.
To see what the Mayor of London is saying about the new fares, please visit www.london.gov.uk/news/2009/tube-fares
Send an e-card
The Council has created an e-card for residents to send to Mayor Johnson directly and let him know how they feel about the fare rises.
Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said:
"Hackney residents are being hit hardest by Mayor Johnson's fare rises.
"Although public transport in London does need extra investment, Mayor Johnson could have looked at alternative means of securing more funds, such as imposing an extra charge on gas guzzling 4x4 vehicles. Instead by targeting bus users, he is hitting those who least can afford it, whilst letting wealthy, polluting drivers in London off the hook."
Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, said: "I support the Council's opposition to the fare rises. We are working hard for our residents through the recession, which is why I am proposing to the Council to freeze our share of the Council Tax next year for the fifth year in a row.
"Boris Johnson's proposals threaten to undermine that support by hitting residents who have no choice about how to get to work."
The Council's annual Place Survey showed that 82 per cent of residents are regular bus users.
What you said...
Kara Collins said: "Like most people in the borough, I get around by bus and bike, so this is going to have an effect on me. I can't help feeling Boris Johnson mislead Londoners as he seemed to be for getting people out of cars and into public transport and bikes, and then he hikes the prices."
Emmanuel Opoku added: "Twenty per cent is far too much and I'd be happy to sign any petition that would stop this hike."
Peter Anthony said: "No one likes price rises, but most people understand why they're necessary. But in this case, it seems like too much of a rise in one go."
Page updated: 19 Oct 2010
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