The BBC have reported that many bus routes in London are being cut or reduced in frequency – see link below for details. Up to one fifth of routes will be affected and there is a public consultation you can respond to – see link below.

Such cuts are long overdue. Not only do so many buses slow other traffic but TfL is running up massive deficits on bus services which have actually got worse during the pandemic as ridership fell. I said this in a previous blog post:  In the Operating Segment of “Buses, streets and other operations” there is a deficit of £754 million for the last quarter and that probably includes the income from the Congestion and ULEZ charges.

In essence TfL continues to run totally uneconomic bus services for which the customers are unwilling to pay. Cuts to bus services should have been made long ago. The population of London supports these services from which a minority benefit out of the taxes they pay which is unfair and unreasonable. Why should cyclists, tube and rail users and motorists subsidise bus services?

BBC Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61660409

TfL Consultation: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/busreview

Roger Lawson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Drivers_London

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