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Boris publishes ‘vulnerable passenger’ guidance to bus drivers

July 28, 2014 by Martin Hoscik

The guidance sets out who must be allowed to travel even when lacking a ticket.
The guidance sets out who must be allowed to travel even when lacking a ticket.
Mayor Boris Johnson has published the guidance issued to bus drivers setting out which passengers must be allowed to travel even when lacking a valid Oyster or other payment card.

The information was published in response to a request from Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon following the recent axing of cash fares on the bus network.

Transport for London (TfL) last month refused to publish the same information when urged to do so by Green party AM Darren Johnson.

Both AMs have previously said publication of the guidance would help reassure the public that vulnerable passenger groups would not be left stranded if they lacked a valid ticket or card.

In his answer to Assembly Member Pidgeon, the Mayor said: “A number of mitigation measures accompanied cash-free operation of the bus network including a new Oyster ‘One more journey’ facility, some additional Oyster Ticket Stops primarily in outer/outside London and a major public communication campaign. 

“TfL has also worked with a range of organisations (including the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society) to review the procedure for dealing with vulnerable passengers. 

“This has been incorporated into a revised version of the driver’s handbook (Big Red Book) which was issued to all bus drivers in June.”

The relevant section of the handbook, provided by the Mayor, states: “Do not leave anyone stranded if they are vulnerable or obviously in distress. For example:
 
• Young or older people
• People who could be at risk if left behind, including those in isolated places or at quieter times
• People who are disabled, injured, unwell or who have had an accident, assault or similar incident
• People who show you a travel support card and may have learning difficulties.  Not all impairments are obvious.”

In answer to a separate question from Labour AM Navin Shah, the Mayor said: “TfL will be monitoring the number of customer complaints on a daily basis during the initial weeks of cash-free operation to ensure that the mitigation measures put in place are working effectively.

“TfL also plan to review cash-free operation in the late autumn, including holding a further stakeholder meeting with the organisations who provided input to a review of the vulnerable passenger procedure (inlcuding the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Alzheimer’s Society).”

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Filed Under: News

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