WORSENING LONDON BUS VALUE FOR MONEY COULD SEND PEOPLE BACK TO THEIR CARS

1.02.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Jun 2005

Commenting on the new Department for Transport bus quality indicator statistics for January to March 2005 that showed a 5 point fall in the number of Londoners who were satisfied that the capital's bus services provided good value for money, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, Geoff Pope, said:-

"Londoners know that the massive hike in bus fares last January went against everything the Ken Livingstone had promised in his first four years.

"Time and again he told the public that fares would only increase in line with inflation and yet just months after re-election he has hiked up every type of fare he could.

"Keeping bus fares low and introducing the congestion charge had been about reducing traffic congestion in London. Now these new figures suggest that in the coming months people are starting to think about getting back in their cars rather than using the bus.

ENDS

Notes to editor

Bus Quality Indicators: England, Q4 2004/05 Data, January to March 2005 can be found at :-

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/downloadable/dft_transstats_038371.pdf

and states:-

"Satisfaction with value for money in England was down three points from the previous quarter, to 70. This was due in part to a fall of five points in London (from 71 to 66), reflecting the January fare increases. In Metropolitan Areas, ratings fell by three points to 74 and in Non-Metropolitan areas by one point to 72. The annual figure for England was down by three points on the previous year, to 73."