In the London Assembly, Caroline questioned the Mayor on progress with Crossrail, and the continued uncertainty as to the opening date and the total cost.
The Mayor confirmed that he expects the opening to be “in the first half of next year” and the final cost is yet to be determined…
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on Kennington London Underground station finally changing tomorrow from a Zone 2 station to a boundary Zone 1 / 2 station, said.
“This is a change I have long campaigned for, as the former councillor that represented the tube station. Rezoning Kennington tube formed part of our Mayor of London campaigns in 2000 with Susan Kramer, and then in 2004 with Simon Hughes.
Caroline Pidgeon and Luisa Porritt launched the London Liberal Democrats' flexible Travelcard policy at Oxford Circus on 27th April.
More flexible working means we now need to update travelcards to ensure Londoners get fairer fares. Introducing a travelcard with four days of travel for the price of three reflects our new way of working and gives Londoners a free day of travel around our city.
Caroline talks about the work she has recently done on one of the areas she's passionate about – making a more accessible transport network in London. You can hear about Caroline's recent campaigns on accessibility, and some of the commitments Luisa Porritt and the London Lib Dem have made in their election manifesto for 6 May.
On 18th March, Caroline talked to BBC Radio London about the financial challenges facing London's transport system.
Caroline said:
Just like other world cities, the Government must support Transport for London after the previous Mayor agreed away its subsidy.
The dramatic rise in the theft of car catalytic converters has been revealed by detailed figures obtained by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon.
Despite many crimes falling during lockdown, the theft of car catalytic converters has soared across London between 2019 and 2020, with increases in 27 of the 32 London boroughs covered by the Metropolitan Police. The borough with the highest number of thefts was Barnet, seeing 1114 thefts in 2020 – more than three thefts a day.
Caroline spoke to BBC London Politics about the lack of progress on step-free access on the tube, and wider concerns about accessibility on London's transport system.
Caroline said:
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) investigation report into the fatality at Eden Park train station on the 26 February 2020, where a blind man suffered fatal injuries after falling from the edge of a platform without tactile paving, said:
“In 2021 it is staggering that one third of platforms around the country lack tactile paving, a basic safety measure, simply because it is only installed when there are major station renovations.
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on TfL dropping its plans to stop taking cash across all London Underground, DLR and London Overground stations, said:
“This is a welcome decision and a real victory for the 260,000 adults in London without a bank account. Children and tourists will also benefit from this decision.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Women's Aid and the Rail Delivery Group launched a scheme providing free train travel to those fleeing domestic abuse, which has since helped hundreds of survivors.
In the London Assembly, Caroline Pidgeon asked the Mayor of London if Transport for London would look at a similar scheme.
