First Published: Sunday 27 April 2008, 23:10
Boris Johnson has sought to reassure London voters that he supports the Freedom Pass after reports that Labour campaigners have been telling voters that he intends to scrap it.
In a statement issued today Mr Johnson accused Labour of "dirty tricks" which "play on the most vulnerable in our society".
Mr Johnson said "Our seniors have paid into the system all their lives and deserve free travel - something that is awarded by the London Boroughs and not by the Mayor in any case.
"I support the London Boroughs who give free travel to the over 60's. I will work with them to extend it to operate 24 hours a day - a pledge the current Mayor has failed to deliver on.
"In the last few days remaining of the campaign I urge Londoners to seek out my real views on issues of concern to them and not be mislead by what Ken Livingstone and his Labour Party tell them".
2. at 12:11 on Saturday 3rd May 2008, Simon wrote:
I hope Mr Johnson's promise on the freedom pass is one he will be able to honour.
3. at 8:27 on Monday 5th May 2008, margaret wrote:
As a severely mobility impaired person I am very concerned about the threat to bring back Routemaster buses.
I am pensioner but have also been disabled for many years. It is physically impossible for me to use a Routemaster and the local underground station is inaccessible. I also live on a tourist route which was still served by Routemasters long after they had been replaced elsewhere.
Those Routemasters effectively debarred me from using public transport.
I was almost completely housebound for about twenty years and I got a wheelchair/scooter relatively recently so I am not sure when the mobility buses came into use. When I first saw a bus "kneel" I suspect that I just sat there with my mouth open!
I found out about the ramps by accident. I was sitting talking to a friend who was waiting for a bus and when the driver saw me he extended the ramp when he stopped. The bus even had a space for a wheelchair!
Please don't replace the mobility buses with Routemasters. I had to give up working long before I reached retirement age and it really is not feasible for mobility impaired people to use Routemasters safely. Taxicards allow disabled users one short return journey weekly and one cannot go to work or to any regular appointment by Dial-a-Ride.
Admittedly, my judgement may be influenced by my own needs but I believe that the mobility buses are a great improvement on the Routemasters.
London is a tourist centre but even tourists can be vulnerable. The stairs on the modern mobility buses are much easier and safer to negotiate and I am told that the view from the upper deck is at least as good.
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1. at 8:28 on Wednesday 30th April 2008, Frank Manning wrote:
When I met Boris earlier this year he confirmed if he became mayor he would make the freedom pass 24hr. This would be of great benifit to older/ disabled people who have early appointments with health appointments.