Caroline Pidgeon welcomed the prospect of the Thameslink route appearing on the tube map, to remind central London travellers that it's a convenient and less crowded option.
Caroline told the London SE1 website:
"I very much welcome what looks like the Mayor and TfL backing down on this issue.
"There are short and long term arguments for putting Thameslink back on the tube map.
Caroline Pidgeon has criticised Transport for London's move to end cash payments across all Tube stations, without a genuine consultation process.
Caroline told the Evening Standard:
“I remain concerned that TfL is still planning to end cash payments across all of its Tube stations.
“The potential of increased fare evasion appears to have not been considered or the difficulties of people being forced to quickly top up their Oyster cards while on the move.
After being alerted by concerned Tube staff to a plan to make all stations cashless, Caroline Pidgeon has criticised TfL's attempts to do this by stealth during a pandemic, and described the negative impact it would have:
Caroline told the Evening Standard:
“The move to solely cashless ticket machines at London Underground stations must not happen by stealth.
Speaking in the London Assembly about the continued closure of Hammersmith Bridge, with no clear plan to fund its repair, Caroline Pidgeon called on the government to engage and provide financial support to get the bridge into use again.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the news of further delays to the opening of Crossrail, said:
“Covid might partly explain these latest delays, but they are only part of the picture as even Crossrail admits.
“The consequences of Crossrail opening two and half years late are immense. The project has soared in cost and every day it is not open valuable fare income is being lost to TfL and this vital new railway is not open to Londoners.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the news that most train fares will rise by 1.6% from 2 January 2021, but TfL fares will rise by 2.6% due to Government set conditions on TfL said:
“This exceptionally high fare rise for TfL passengers makes it clear that Londoners continue to pay the price for the political games being played by the Mayor and the Government.
The recent Trust for London report on suspending free travel in London for under-18s makes clear the views of young Londoners about scrapping the scheme, and the impact it would have on so many London teenagers.
The key findings were:
On the tenth anniversary of the cycle hire scheme, Caroline Pidgeon pointed to the gaps in its coverage - especially in south-east London, and especially at a time when so many people want to cycle rather than use buses or trains.
“The bold expansion of the scheme that took place in the early years of the scheme has halted. It is time that much more ambition was shown.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the announcement of the further delayed opening of Crossrail said:
“We should never forget that the central section of Crossrail was promised to open in December 2018. It is now clear that we’ll be lucky if it opens by the end of 2021.
“This further delay is terrible news, for passengers and London’s businesses. The hole in TfL’s budget is also set to become even bigger.
Pressed by Caroline Pidgeon at Mayor's Question Time in July, the Mayor has admitted that the central section of Crossrail is now very unlikely to be open by summer 2021.
Caroline said:
"Clarification is vital so Londoners know when the line will finally open.
“For too long Crossrail has been plagued by unrealistic progress reports and misleading claims made to the public.
