FARE RISE WILL MEAN IT'S CHEAPER TO TAKE A CAB THAN USE THE TUBE IN CENTRAL LONDON

6.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 6th Oct 2005

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats today revealed that following the price increase for Zone 1 single Tube fares that will take place in January, it will be cheaper to take a taxi for anyone travelling up to one kilometre (0.6 miles) in central London.

Following the fare hike that will take a single in Zone 1 to £3, research by the Liberal Democrats shows that 1007.4 metre journey by black cab would cost the same as a Zone 1 single. With two people travelling together, any journey of up to 2 miles will now be cheaper than taking a Tube.

London Assembly Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, Geoff Pope, said:-

"It is staggering to find that a short trip in a black cab will now work out cheaper than going by public transport.

"If aliens visiting from outer space landed in the capital they would think that the Mayor is actively encouraging people not to come into central London at all.

"With businesses in London already suffering from a downturn in trade, the clobbering of tourists in central London will come as a particularly hard kick in the teeth. There is a danger that with all that has happened in the capital in the last few months that this will end up being the final straw as people go elsewhere to shop and be tourists."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Journey length Tariff 1

Miles

minimum £2.20

0.5 £2.80

1.0 £3.80

1.5 £4.80

2.0 £5.80

2.5 £6.80

3.0 £7.60

3.5 £8.60

4.0 £9.60

4.5 £10.60

5.0 £11.60

6.0 £13.40

7.0 £16.20

8.0 £19.00

9.0 £21.80

10.0 £24.40

11.0 £27.20

12.0 £30.00

13.0 £32.60

14.0 £35.40

15.0 £38.20

16.0 £40.80

18.0 £46.40

20.0 £51.80

"Tariff 1 is for any hiring during Monday to Friday other than on a public holiday between 6am and 8pm

· For the first 335.8 metres or 72.2 seconds (whichever is reached first) there is a minimum charge of £2.20;

· For each additional 167.9 metres or 36.1 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof, if the fare is less than £13.40 then there is a charge of 20p;

· Once the fare is £13.40 or greater then there is a charge of 20p for each additional 117.7 metres or 25.3 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof."

Calculations for the distances have assumed that travel will based on distance rather than time spent on a Tariff 1 fare.

· At £3.00, one person could travel in a black cab for 1,007.4 metres (0.63 miles)

· At £6.00, (two single zone 1 fares), two people could travel 3,525.9 metres (2.19 miles)

· At £9.00, (three single zone 1 fares), three people could travel 6,883.9 metres (4.28 miles)

· At £12.00 (four single zone 1 fares), four people could travel 8,562.9 metres (5.32 miles)

· At £15.00 (five single zone 1 fates), five people could travel 10,679.8 metres (6.63 miles)