Scrutinising the Mayor articles

Reduce buses on Oxford Street immediately

The London Assembly Transport Committee has written to the Mayor asking him to prioritise the changes needed to make Oxford Street pedestrianised - including innovative changes to bus routes and service patterns.

The committee has met with representatives of local businesses, residents, road users, Transport for London (TfL) and Westminster City Council, and will go on to produce a full report on congestion issues in the capital later in the year.

The letter suggests:

Caroline Pidgeon welcomes adoption of One Hour Bus Ticket

Commenting on the introduction of a one hour "Hopper" bus ticket starting from Monday 12th September, Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member said:

"I have been campaigning for a One Hour Bus Ticket for the best part of a decade in London so very much welcome its final introduction from next week. Imitation sometimes is the greatest form of flattery.

London still has a long way to go in the adoption of electric buses

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly transport spokesperson, commenting on today’s announcement that the bus routes 507 and 521 will become the first in central London to exclusively run all-electric buses by the end of the year, said:

"I very much welcome the adoption of more electric buses in London.

“However, the Mayor and TfL should refrain from making boastful claims about the adoption of electric buses, especially as today’s announcement is merely confirming a decision made over a year ago.

Stop private hire discrimination against people with assistance dogs

The London Assembly has backed the Guide Dogs for the Blind campaign to ensure that there are far more effective sanctions against private hire drivers who refuse access to assistance dogs.

The Assembly agreed a unanimous motion calling for this to be penalised with a level 4 fine, in keeping with offences such as ticket touting.

Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“Although the law is crystal clear that it is a criminal offence for taxi and private hire drivers to refuse access to disabled people with assistance dogs, it is sadly the case that such discrimination takes place far too often, especially in relation to private hire drivers.

London must be given more say over how its taxes are spent

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on Sadiq Khan’s speech today calling on the capital to be given more powers over how it spends the money it makes said:

“I stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mayor in his call for more devolution of powers to London and most importantly greater say over how taxes raised in the capital are spent.

On the River Thames

Caroline Pidgeon AM met with Thames Tideway Tunnel project officers for a trip along the River Thames to look at some of the sites where major works will take place to build the Tunnel. The Tunnel will remove sewage from London in a modern way, rather than the current situation which means when it rains heavily, sewage is washed into the River Thames.

Past failings by Boris Johnson on housing must now be addressed

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on Sadiq Khan’s description of the previous Mayor’s ‘Concordat’ scheme to supposedly stop developers advertising London homes abroad first for overseas buyers as ‘toothless’ said:

“Sadiq Khan is absolutely right to criticise the weak measures adopted by the previous Mayor.

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