Commenting on the Mayor’s 2013 fare rises which start on 2nd January, Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, said:
“Inflation busting fare rises are Boris Johnson’s New Year's gift to Londoners.
“Under Boris Johnson the cheapest bus or tram fare - a single Oyster Pay As You Go fare - has soared from 90 pence to £1.40. While most people have seen hardly any improvements in their incomes the Mayor has imposed a staggering rise in the cost of just getting to work.
“These latest fare rises will add to the financial problems facing many Londoners, especially those on low incomes who are already struggling with rising fuel bills.
“Of course investment has to be maintained in our transport infrastructure, but if the Mayor was really committed to meeting his election pledge to ‘bear down’ on fares he could have easily avoided such steep fare rises.
“If the Mayor simply stopped pouring public money into his vanity projects such as the Thames Cable Car he could ensure fare rises were capped at no more than inflation, as well as fund a one-hour bus ticket.”